Dorothy MacKenzie: Friend, reporter and historian

From the archives of the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library:

With the recent donation of the Sault Star archives collection to the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library, it is well worth looking back upon the careers and lives of the daily paper’s journalists, for without their work this invaluable collection and record of our local and district history would not exist.

One such individual, whose 25-year career with the Sault Star captured and recorded the happenings of the Algoma District, was Dorothy (Moore) MacKenzie.

Dorothy’s adventure with journalism began at a young age. It was noted in a 1982 Sault Star article by Nancy Dorrance that F. W. Rickaby, who owned seven weekly papers, hired her to write for his Bruce Mines newspaper after she completed high school. And so it would appear, she was bitten by the writing bug. 

MacKenzie’s career at the Sault Star is highlighted by her trademark column All Along and Off the Line, which first appeared on Oct. 28, 1960. The ‘line’ that Dorothy’s column refers to, for those unfamiliar with the term, refers to Highway 17, also known as the King’s Highway.

Her reporter’s beat was the various communities found ‘up and down the line’ such as Wawa, Batchawana Bay, Garden River, Echo Bay, Bruce Mines, and Manitoulin Island to name just a few. Dorothy’s rural roots lent her the affinity and approachability necessary to become a trusted voice for the district’s people.

Originally a native of MacLennan, a small rural community located between Laird and Desbarats, she also spent her childhood on Neebish Island and came to know the people of Garden River at a young age as her father was the Superintendent for the Department of Highways responsible for the area from Echo Bay to Garden River.

“I was always up there and the Indians were so nice to me…they offered me friendship,” she wrote.

It became apparent while researching the career of MacKenzie that the one word that was often employed to describe her was ‘friend’.

Another well-respected journalist and contemporary of Dorothy MacKenzie’s, Linda Richardson, also of the Sault Star, records just how much of a revered and appreciated friend the district reporter and subsequent District Editor became.

From the Sault Star archives, Richardson’s article Rankin Band Recognized a Friend dated April 27, 1972, tells the story of Dorothy’s prestigious invitation to become an honourary member of the Batchawana First Nation. The reporter had been invited to a ceremony held earlier that day where Arthur Wishart and William Hogg were appointed as board members for the Batchawana Band Industries Limited. 

“Part of the ceremonies included the surprise installation of four local citizens, Mr. Wishart, Mr. Hogg, Harry Derrer and Mrs. MacKenzie as honorary band members. But Dorothy missed the ceremony so the Corbieres came to her,” Richardson wrote.

Chief John Marvin Corbiere accompanied by his wife Alice, attended at Dorothy’s Sault Ste. Marie residence, invited her to become a member of the Batchawana Band and presented her with the great honour of a headdress. These significant honours were bestowed upon MacKenzie in appreciation for her friendship and inclusion of the Indigenous community’s activities, news and representation throughout her reporting career.

Similar honours were granted to MacKenzie by Garden River First Nation as well.

MacKenzie was presented with the Anishinaabemowin name, Wabananung which translates to Morning Star in English, a headband, and a necklace in appreciation for her inclusion and friendship as the District Reporter and Editor.

Dorothy is quoted as saying when reflecting back upon her career, “At that time Garden River was receiving limited publicity. I used to stop and talk with the late chief William Pine. I knew what was going on and I helped promote the activities.” 

Linda Richardson reports in the aforementioned article that “The band invited her to special events such as pow wows, banquets and the homemaking club. She was quite involved during Centennial year and worked closely with them on cultural grants and the Hiawatha play.” 

Dorothy MacKenzie, journalist and friend of the local Indigenous communities stated, “I felt proud and I felt humble … I feel I have gained much more from the Indian people than I could give them” … “wherever I go on the two reserves I feel right at home.”

Insomuch as our local first nations recognized and honoured Dorothy MacKenzie’s friendship and representation within local print media, so too have others who called her friend.

Brian Latham, formerly of Sault Ste. Marie, grew up in the same neighbourhood as this local journalist and shared a life-long friendship with the reporter’s late daughter, Ella Jean (MacKenzie) Richter.

Latham shared in a Sootoday.com article on Nov. 28, 2019, that “Dorothy's great pride was being recognized for reporting on First Nations communities, not often covered by the media of the day.” Latham recognized what he calls the “pure local historical gold” and “genealogical resource (that) lies hidden in her columns” and so with the support of his friend Ella Jean, he embarked upon the daunting but oh so worthwhile task of creating an Index of the columns of Dorothy MacKenzie.

Over a four year period, and with the assistance of a professional researcher at the Archives of Ontario and local genealogist Arthur Manley, the group worked tirelessly to ensure that the Index was completed, published, and distributed free of charge to the people and libraries of the Algoma Region.

The Index to the Columns of Dorothy MacKenzie, Reporter for the Sault Star,1960-1970 also includes a name, place and subject keyword index; a genealogist’s treasure chest to be sure.

This invaluable resource is housed locally at the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library in print and online. The MacKenzie columns can be viewed using The Sault Star microfilm collection and provide a historical trip ‘down the line’ for readers and researchers.

Each week, the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library and its Archives provides SooToday readers with a glimpse of the city’s past.

Find out more of what the Public Library has to offer at www.ssmpl.ca and look for more Remember This? columns here