Thank you John ! What you're saying is already priceless.
I'm more used to the south "amerindian" flutes (thanks to Tony Hinnigan and James Horner) because I play the quena and the quenacho myself. I believe north "amerindian" flutes are very close to the quenas of the south, with a soft, windy and warm sound, but I do hear a difference from one flute to another, without being able to name them.
quena (native south american flute)
native north american flute
I'm always surprised the north flutes are not credited in any film score that involves a native american sound, but the big variety of the tribes and their flutes must be the reason why we englobe them in the "plains flute" or "native flute" naming.
Great topic anyway !
