Scary incident at Survival School

On Tuesday morning, Kahnawa’kehró:non Tammy Whitebean saw rumours on social media that something serious was going on at Kahnawake Survival School, where her son is just weeks into seventh grade.

“It was very scary. I didn’t know what was happening,” she said.

Soon the school announced that it had been swept into lockdown. Parents were asked not to come to the school, although some reportedly rushed to look on from across the street.

Whitebean stayed home, not wanting to interfere while the school worked to secure her son's safety. Instead she tried texting her son, but she got no answer.

At the time, her son was hiding under a desk.

“I just kept trying to reach him, and then finally he called me and he said he was okay,” said Whitebean.

The school periodically conducts lockdown drills, but barely into the academic year, this was a first, and it was no rehearsal.

The lockdown started around 10:20 a.m. and lasted a little over an hour as the Kahnawake Peacekeepers, who were called at 10:29 a.m., searched and secured the school. The lockdown was finally lifted just after 11:30 a.m.

The Kahnawake Education Center later revealed that the lockdown had been put into effect because of a threat from a student. The KEC has not publicly disclosed the nature of the threat, but The Eastern Door has ascertained from interviews with the Peacekeepers and KEC administration that it was a threat to commit a school shooting.

The student was not in possession of a weapon.

“The student is part of the school family, so we have to take into consideration everybody’s needs. It was a very intense morning, an intense experience,” said Falen Iakowennaiéwas Jacobs, the new director of education at the KEC.

She said protocol was followed closely and successfully.

“We do commend the team for jumping into action,” she said.

She could only speak in generalities when it comes to how a situation like this could be followed up on with a student who uttered a threat, but she said there is a placement and review process that involves a student and their family when situations occur.

“We don’t know the intent of the student, why they would say something like that. We have to take it seriously,” said Jacobs.

She noted that rumours circulated in the community, including one that there was an active shooter. Information that was released during the lockdown was limited, which Jacobs said was to avoid mass panic. The lockdown announcement reported that all students and staff were safe.

Angie Brascoup, whose son is a KSS student, feels parents should have been given more context from the start.

“They should have told everyone from the beginning because other lives could have been in danger when parents were there across the street and pulling into the school waiting for answers,” said Brascoup.

Brascoup's son was not present that morning; he was going to be a few hours late to school that day because he hadn’t been feeling well. “We were just actually leaving to bring him in when his friend told him they were on lockdown,” said Brascoup, Whitebean’s sister.

“Although he wasn't there, I still had family that were and was still very concerned for their safety and everyone else who was involved.”

Asked why the school did not announce the nature of the threat following the incident, Jacobs did not elaborate, but did suggest that communications protocols could be re-examined, especially considering the circulation of misinformation that can take place.

As for dealing with alarming situations, the school already has measures in place to train students and teachers, Jacobs said, and these policies will get a fresh look.

“It was an unfortunate incident, but I guess a silver lining of it is everybody was kept safe and we’re able to make improvements to tighten up our safety protocol as a result,” said Jacobs.

“We have started to do active shooter drills, making it as normalized as our fire drills and our evacuation procedures. That’s part of our movement and our next steps. Unfortunately, it is the nature of the times that we live in. Kahnawake is not immune to these types of incidents.”

Students were dismissed following the lockdown, and in the aftermath the KEC and community organizations pivoted to counselling and support for those impacted by it. Jacobs said facilitating support to students and faculty is a major priority.

In addition to the school’s counsellors, the Peacekeepers and Kahnawake Shakotiia'takehnhas Community Services (KSCS) were both on site the day after the lockdown to help out.

“There were a few guys at KSS just hanging out with the students, having lunch. Just being there, you know?” said Peacekeepers spokesperson Kyle Zachary. “(Tuesday) was pretty chaotic and scary for a lot of people, and part of community policing is showing the community that we are there for them.”

KSCS counsellors sought to ensure students had the opportunity to process the event.

“I think because ‘nothing’ happened, it can be sort of easy to encourage people to just move on from it,” said KSCS psychologist Brent Beresford. “But the lockdown did happen, even if there was no violent incident or dangerous incident. The lockdown did happen, and so people were scared.”

Beresford said those who feel they need support from the organization can contact KSCS Intake Services.

He said impacts and solutions for everyone can look different, but the key is to create space to process the experience, whether through ceremony, counselling, or even a walk.

“We want to be able to honour the experience of fear, be able to validate it, to let the students, parents, and teachers know this is not something to sort of just brush off,” said Beresford.

School was well-attended the next day, according to Jacobs.

“I sent him to school the very next day,” said Whitebean, “because if we keep him home and we don’t address what happened, he’s just going to always be scared to go back to school.

“I said there are counsellors there on hand if you need to talk or anything. He knows they’re there and available for him. He went to school and came home and he was fine.”

While Whitebean was anxious for information during the lockdown, she said she understood that the focus needed to be on ensuring the safety of students.

“I know it’s scary and parents are wondering what’s going on, and it’s a tough situation, but me, I feel it’s better to let them do their job, so this way my son can get out safe,” she said.

“Let them handle the threat, get your child out safely. They did a great job. That’s my belief.”

Whitebean was glad to receive the details that were released soon after, she said.

KEC has said follow-up on this incident will remain ongoing. No charges are pending in this incident, according to Zachary.

This article was originally published in print on September 20 in issue 33.38 of The Eastern Door.

[email protected]