The History of the Native American Flute

The sound of the contemporary Indian flute does not match the original flute. Today's flute is adapted to western music.

The oldest surviving Native American  flute made of wood comes from an Italian adventurer who traveled through present-day Minnesota in search of the upper Mississippi River, Giacomo Costantino Beltrami (1779-1855, aka JC Beltrami) More on Fluteopedia

The flutes consisted of two parts, which were glued together with resin and held together with leather strips. Some flute makers used these sizes to make there flute 

The dimensions of the flute and position of the holes were as follows: Inside bore: the thickness of a man's thumb. Flute length: the forearm length (from elbow to end of fingers). Place first hole at the top: From the labium (square hole) right hand of a man around the flute. Between sizes the following holes: the first phalanx of an index finger. Four holes all around: a man's left hand around the flute these were the voice holes (the four cardinal points) That gave a flute that was between a G and an F.

Barry D. Higgins (White Crow) explains the flutes

One of the legends about the Indian flute.

All information about the Indian flutes can be found on Fluteopedia