Schools across Lambton-Kent lowered their flags to half-mast Monday.
Lambton-Kent District School Board Director of Education John Howitt said the flags have been lowered to acknowledge the frequent loss of children's lives at Canadian residential schools, and to show respect for the 215 children discovered in mass graves in Kamloops, B.C.
He said like many Canadians, he spent the weekend with a pit in his stomach.
"As educators, we are first and foremost here for our students and their wellbeing and their safety," said Howitt. "Anytime we hear, regardless of when it happened, about the loss of a child in the school system, the very thing that we are responsible for, student safety and ensuring every student gets home at the end of the day, it's just crushing."
Kettle Point recognizes the discovery of 215 children discovered in mass graves in Kamloops, B.C. at its Veterans Memorial Monument (Submitted photo)
Howitt said the history of residential schools is part of the school curriculum beginning in grade six, but suggested it's not sufficient.
"This isn't a study of a one time thing, this is not memorizing the planets and the solar system kind of curriculum," he said. "This is something that has to be spiraled and come back to repeatedly and repeatedly to understand the Canada that we live in now, and to help us prepare for a Canada that we want in the future."
Howitt said the board has not decided how long the flags will remain at half-mast. He said the board believes that needs to come with consultation with local Indigenous communities.
"For me to assume, as the leader of a school board that I know how long the flags should be down for, is colonialism all over again."
Flags are also at half-mast at schools across the St. Clair Catholic District School Board as well as at the Aamjiwnaang First Nation band office, Sarnia City Hall, Bluewater Health, and the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance.
At its meeting Monday, Sarnia council decided the flag at city hall would be at half-mast for at least a week.
Acting Mayor Brian White felt it was important that council show their solidarity.
"They are hoping to create a memorial with children's shoes, you may have seen similar memorials already installed over the weekend, they're seeking to do that at city hall," said White.
He said they've also asked that the flag at city hall be lowered for a total of 215 hours.
"Each hour, obviously, marking one life that was discovered in that mass grave."
A National Indian Residential School Crisis Line has also been set up to provide support for former residential school students and those affected. You can access the 24-hour national crisis line at: 1-866-925-4419.