Traditionally Hand-crafted Flutes

Welcome to LumbeeRiverFlutes! My name is Dylan Joseph Hays, and I am a proud Lumbee artisan dedicated to the traditional art of handcrafting Native American flutes. Each flute I create is made with care, respect, and a deep connection to the natural world and my Lumbee heritage.

My journey began with a love for the sound of the flute. A voice of peace, healing, and spirit. I absolutely fell in love with the Native American style flutes so I began to research them in 2024. Eventually I came across a YouTube channel called BlueBearFlutes and found a man named Charlie Mato-Toyela. I began to watch a lot of videos on BlueBearFlutes YouTube channel before I ordered one of their flutes. Charlie has taught me a lot about flute making. When making my first Native American flute I used one of BlueBearFlutes video as a reference, my first flutes was made out of a tiki torch that I bought from Walmart. I carved it all with my old pocketknife and some of my Gran Gran's (Grandfather) old sandpaper. Over time, I learned to shape and tune each piece by hand, using tools I handmade out of my grandfather's old tools (mainly files for burning tools). I also learned the importance of using natural materials and traditional techniques passed down through Native craftsmanship.

Every flute I make carries a story, from the wood it’s shaped from, to the song it will one day sing. Because of this no two flutes are ever the same, and each is meant to bring calm, inspiration, and connection to its player.

When you purchase one of my handcrafted flutes, you’re not just buying an instrument, you’re supporting the continuation of native artistry, Lumbee tradition, and cultural pride.

Thank you for visiting and for keeping the song alive.
– Dylan Joseph Hays