David Lone Bear Sanipass is the last remaining Mi’kmaq Elder who still makes the Traditional Mi’kmaq Sweetgrass Flute. These flutes are very traditional, they are tuned to a song that David’s grandfather taught him many years ago. These are Northern Block Flutes, and differ in design from the western flutes. They are also not tuned to the European scale of music, as they are tuned traditionally. The flutes are carved by hand, often with hand made tools. Each flute is different than the last.
It all begins with finding the right tree…
Above David points out a few knots in a lightning struck cedar tree explaining that this tree won’t become a flute. The lightning strike crystallizes the sap in the tree making it harder than cedar that hasn’t been struck. This is what helps to give the flute it’s sound. You will often be able to see the strike on the tree, and the inside wood will look different. The wood of the lightning struck tree will be a darker color. Below see the inside of a white cedar tree that has been struck by lightning. The aroma of a cedar tree is amazing.
After the tree is identified as being the tree for the flute, David harvests the wood that he will use and the log is carried out. We have walked through the woods for three days without finding a tree that would be good for flutes. You can imagine how difficult this might be.
Once home, David splits the log into smaller pieces and lets them dry. Since the tree was not living, this doesn’t take too long. Then he begins shaping the flute.
David makes his flutes by hand, even using hand made tools that he designed and made for this purpose.
He began making flutes around the age of 9, learning from his grandfather. He watched his grandfather make flutes, but the only way to learn to make them is to actually make them. David says he has made lots of “fancy kindling” over the years. He learned many ways to not make flutes.
The Sweetgrass Flutes that David makes has a braid of sweetgrass inside the flute, so that when the flute is played there is the fragrance of the sweetgrass activated by the player’s breath. There is a story of the sweetgrass teachings that we will share at another time. Below see a braid of sweetgrass that was placed inside a lightning struck cedar flute.
David is still practicing the art of carving flutes. Many would call him a master flute maker and player.
You can find more flutes in the gallery HERE
Please reach out for more information and to order info@lonebearsarts.com