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Native American Flute Traditions

by Abigail Raney

Overview

After the drum, the flute is perhaps the most important instrument in Native American culture. Although the earliest origins of the flute are lost in history, the flute's prevalence and importance is without question. The flute was a sacred instrument--in legend almost always a gift from the spirits.
Historical Evidence

Because Native American cultures were orally based, there are no written records before the 15th century. The records we do have are from European travelers, and they're minimal in their descriptions. Records from the 18th century mention that the flutes were made of cane or reed but say little about the flutes' construction or sound. There are no early flute artifacts from the Eastern part of the United States, but a few have been found in the Southwest, probably preserved by the drier climate.

Earliest Flutes

Native American flutes probably developed from whistles. Sacred instruments for calling spirits, whistles were often made with specific materials that had symbolic significance. Over time, these whistles became more complex. Some were made with multiple holes or bound together like the Hopewellian pan pipes, made of bone pipes (whistles) and bound with a copper band. (The Hopewell culture also made single pipes out of bone, some made of human bone and possibly used in fertility rites.)

Native American Flute by Chief Arthur Two Crows (photo by Jossi Fresco)
Construction

The most common modern Native American flute is the two-chambered duct flute. This flute has two chambers, a short one in the head and a longer one in the body. The chambers are connected by a slender channel or flue, which directs the air. Another piece, called the block, is usually carved separately, and sits above the flue to help direct the air. Modern flutes usually have five or six holes. Some historical flutes had only three, and many earlier flutes had only one chamber.
Legends of Origin

Many legends claim to explain the flute's origin. Often the flute is taken directly from the tree, having been carved while still a branch. The finder of the flute is usually a young man, often lost, and led to the flute by a bird or bird spirit. An instrument of love as well as communication, the "first" flute frequently helps to win a young woman's affections. The one thing not found in these legends is the popular image of Kokopelli, who is in fact a fabrication, an Anglicized amalgamation of many traditions and cultures with no actual existence in authentic Native American myth.
Modern Flute Practices

Strict assimilation laws in the beginning of the 20th century caused many traditional practices to go underground. Not until the 1930s and 1940s did Native American flute makers begin reviving the practice. Commercial flute-making is still fairly new among Native American flute makers, having only really started in the 1970s. Western influence has also brought a standardized tuning system, though it is not always used. Most traditional flute songs were personal and improvised, therefore transient and not recorded. Today, many flute songs are just traditional tribal songs adapted to be played on the flute.

Native American Flute Player in a NYC Subway Station (photo by David Shankbone)