Nakatoshaj
My Name is Mi-Cree-Ni Quash-Mah. I hand craft flutes from wood, stone,string, beeswax, and organic vegetable oil. I have been making flutes for a long time. I was taught to make flutes by my Grandfather, and my Father. We are Kickapoo Indians enrolled in the Kickapoo nation in Kansas.
This is my website. I display some of the flutes I make and tell people about something about my family heritage. I try to offer people a way of discovering more about American Indian people like me and my family. Please feel welcome to vist here often, things will be changing more as flutes get ready for sale and stories get booked for events and sometimes even festivals or pow-wows. I like to go when I can an take pictures to share once in a while I put the pictures of what I have been doing in my NEWS or Calendar links so chech back "Ahaj-Qui"../about
A few words about these flutes
Hello: seems I am always going to be working on this site. but for now I want to offer you a few educational words about the flutes I make
every single flute is unique, simply because each body of raw material is unique from the choice of Stone to the grain of the wood and so this effects the flavor of the musical tone created by the flute.
now I try not to paint the flute I make with lacquer or sealers like wax or petroleum chemicals. the flutes I make are all "oldSchool" natural wood grains with stone sound blocks. the fingering is all ergonomically balanced and the shape of the flute body is a functionally patented design. This type of flute is only available from me. if you find one not made by me that has been sold under another name please contact me with that information as soon as possible. If you find one that you believe has been made by me but is not signed call me 541-345-7159 I have made, sold and given away thousands of flute since 1959. if you find one these you may have a very valuable instrument and I would very much like to authenticate it and offer you a certificate of title free of charge. I could tune it up for you as well. because as flute without chemical finishes on them get older they grow with a specific resonance and the sound could mellow or disappear all together. not a defect just a part of the organic process of organic material. Issues with unfinished wood and everything you put into your mouth, I'll let you think about that:
There is one flute that I know of it was hand craved by my father over 40 years ago here is a picture of it " my father name is Lester and he used the Government name of Goslin I found this flute in an auction somebody out bid me and I have yet to discover any contact with them the seller was not available so maybe they will see this and contact me I would enjoy the contact Lester's Flute's
Now wooden spoons and forks and bowls have been around forever My Father carved thousands of these and I have carved several myself without physical impairment to the human body: however if your allergic to some types of wood tannins then you would not want to use those types of wood without some kind of finish. even the types of finish must be considered. Many of my original flutes were finished with organic water based lacquer Kind of okay but the finish would eventually wear at the mouth piece and that made me hesitant to continue its use so I stopped around 1991 using those type of finishes.
Next I started using organic food grade oils like peanut oil and soybean oil and olive oil these are excellent but they will putrefy if you put too much on at one time and they will darken the wood grain color.
So with my flutes comes an agreement that I have always stood beside for every flute I make with my signature on it I will replace or refinish that flute for you at no additional cost and if you want to learn I can teach you in person or at a small fee I could send you a DVD. And sometimes like if you let your dog chew it or sit down on it and damage the flute I may be able to repair it. The repairs are many times much more expensive then the original flute so be careful. new flutes typically run from 375.00 to several thousand yes I said several thousand dollars. My father's old flute sold for $1400.00 go figure and it never played well as he was experimenting with adjustable nests he never did work that out but that is not a testiment to his ability he was an excellant artist.
I occasionally perform flute workshops: not intended to teach wood craft but to teach the method of tonal and volume adjustment and playing methods during these workshops the participants will receive one of my flutes as part of the workshop material fee. this is why my base price is 375.00 you can either buy a flute outside of the workshop or attend the workshop and get one that way.
Sometimes if I like your story I will give you a flute free.
come to a workshop and begin to learn how to play it will enrich your life in ways you only dreamed about.