Tim Mullen

02/06/2010 03:39 PM

6 February 2010

Dear Reader:

Water and Canton go together like....

"A horse and carriage."

And so the song concludes....

"This I tell you brother.

You can't have one with out the

other."

I noted many years ago that Canton has a close association with flowing water and wetlands. After all, the area resides at the headwaters of TWO tributaries of the Susquehanna River, which are Towanda Creek and Lycoming Creek. How many communities can boast of being at a headwaters ONCE let alone twice over?

Beyond being a great life giver to humanity, water has great mystical, spiritual and symbolical importance and power for many of the world's religions.

Along those lines it might be nice to officially recognize Canton's close connection to water by inviting the leaders and members of the Delaware tribe(s) to the Canton area to hold a sacred place naming ceremony, maybe a Pow Wow even. The name? I thought 'Mother Of Waters' would be nice but maybe the Canton Elementary School students can and will think of a better one. It would be interesting to learn what word(s) the Delaware, who were so good at naming places in Pennsylvania that we are still using them today, would choose for Canton's English name choice.

It could happen.

Sincerely,

Tim Mullen

P.S. Don't go looking for a reservation for the Delaware Nation in the Commonwealth because....there isn't one. And I consider that a dark blot on the history of Pennsylvania.