The Lambton Kent District School Board (LKDSB) is remembering Harriet Jacobs, an educator and pioneer whose vision established and grew Indigenous education programs for local students, following her peaceful passing on Sunday, November 16, 2025, at the age of 88. Jacobs's career was defined by her determination to ensure Indigenous students had dedicated support and […]
The Lambton Kent District School Board (LKDSB) is remembering Harriet Jacobs, an educator and pioneer whose vision established and grew Indigenous education programs for local students, following her peaceful passing on Sunday, November 16, 2025, at the age of 88.
Jacobs's career was defined by her determination to ensure Indigenous students had dedicated support and cultural connection within the school system. Her work began in 1975 when she became the first Native Studies teacher at Wallaceburg District Secondary School (WDSS).
At the time, Indigenous voices and needs were often overlooked, but Jacobs’s courage and advocacy laid the foundation for the Indigenous education programs that exist today. Her pioneering contributions included:
Establishing the Culture Club, which is now known as the Future Elders Leadership Group.
Serving as the first Supervisor of the Walpole Island Day Care Centre, which was Canada's first Indigenous Child Care Centre.
Coaching basketball, baseball, and volleyball, which helped to foster teamwork and pride among students.
Building the Indigenous Education and Support Program from a small room into the vital resource it is now.
Upon her retirement in 2004, the Native Studies office at WDSS was renamed the Harriet Jacobs Centre (HJC). This space continues to be a safe haven and a beacon of support for Indigenous students, affirming their identity, celebrating their culture, and empowering them to succeed. The Indigenous Students Centre at WDSS is a further testament to her unwavering commitment.
Jacobs's work successfully addressed the systemic issue of marginalization of Indigenous students in the education system. This effort is particularly vital in the Sarnia Census Agglomeration (CA) where Indigenous people comprised 4.4% of the population in 2021, totaling 4,280 people. The majority of the Indigenous population in the Sarnia CA are First Nations people, numbering 2,870 (or 67.0% of the Indigenous population), followed by Métis, numbering 1,205 (or 28.1% of the Indigenous population).
Without Jacobs's vision, the Indigenous Education team and programs the community relies on today would not exist. Her legacy highlights the importance of representation and how effective advocacy can change lives.
To honour Harriet Jacobs's enduring legacy, the LKDSB, in partnership with Robin Isaac, Career Advisor at the HJC, has announced the creation of a new graduation award for an Indigenous student. The award will celebrate the values Jacobs championed throughout her life: leadership, resilience, and cultural pride. Details on the criteria and sponsorship for this award will be shared in the coming months.
Harriet Jacobs was an educator, a pioneer, a mentor, and a powerful voice for equity. Her impact will continue to inspire generations of students and educators alike.
