Privacy Policy
Effective date: May 17, 2026
NFN Connect is built to keep Nipissing First Nation members informed. This policy explains what data the app collects, how it is stored, and what it does not do. We wrote it in plain language on purpose.
The short version: We collect the bare minimum needed to send you push notifications, remember your preferences, and attribute dictionary contributions to your device. We do not track you across apps, we do not run analytics, and we do not share your data with advertisers.
What we collect
NFN Connect collects the following information:
- Push notification token — a device identifier generated by your phone's operating system so we can deliver notifications to you via Firebase Cloud Messaging. You can disable notifications at any time in your phone's Settings.
- Device platform — whether you are on iOS or Android, so notifications are formatted correctly.
- On-reserve / off-reserve preference — your choice of which category of community updates you want to receive.
- Anonymous device identifier — a random ID generated by the app on first launch and stored on your device. It is not linked to your name, email, or Apple/Google account. We use it to show you the status of dictionary corrections and word suggestions you have submitted.
- Favourites — which contacts and programs you have hearted are stored only on your device. They are never uploaded to our server.
- User-generated contributions — when you suggest a correction to a dictionary entry or propose a new Anishinaabemowin word, the text you submit is sent to our server for review. These contributions are attributed to your anonymous device identifier so you can see their review status.
What we do not collect
We do not collect:
- Names or personal identifiers
- Email addresses
- Passwords or account credentials
- Location or GPS data
- Health or financial information
- Browsing or usage analytics
- Advertising identifiers
There are no user accounts. You do not sign in. The anonymous device identifier we use cannot be traced back to you personally.
How we use the data
We use the data we collect for the following purposes:
- Sending community notifications relevant to your on-reserve or off-reserve preference.
- Attributing dictionary corrections and word suggestions to the device that submitted them, so you can see their review status in the app.
- Reviewing and approving community contributions to the Anishinaabemowin dictionary.
How data is stored
All server-side data is stored on a private server operated by the developer. It is not hosted on third-party cloud platforms. Access to the server is restricted to the developer.
Your favourites and notification preferences are stored locally on your device and are not transmitted to our server.
Third-party services
Push notifications are delivered through Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM), a service operated by Google. Your push token is sent to Firebase so notifications can reach your device. Google's privacy policy is available at policies.google.com/privacy.
The app uses Expo Calendar (an Expo module) to let you add community events directly to your phone's calendar. This is a local operation — no calendar data leaves your device. Expo's privacy policy is available at expo.dev/privacy.
On the server side, we optionally send operational alerts (such as new dictionary contributions) to a configured Slack webhook. These alerts contain only the content of the contribution, not any personal information about the submitter.
No analytics SDK, ad network, or crash reporting service is embedded in the app.
Data sharing
We do not sell, rent, or share your data with any third party. The only external transmission of data is the push notification token sent through Firebase Cloud Messaging as described above.
Data retention
Your push notification token and preferences are stored for as long as the app is active on your device. If you uninstall the app, your push token becomes invalid and is eventually removed from the server during routine cleanup.
Your anonymous device identifier and the corrections or suggestions you submit are retained indefinitely so that the community dictionary can maintain a record of contributions. If you wish to have your contributions removed, contact us and we will anonymize them.
Children's privacy
NFN Connect does not knowingly collect personal information from children. The app collects the same minimal, non-identifying data from all users regardless of age.
Changes to this policy
If this policy changes, the updated version will be posted here with a new effective date. Significant changes will be communicated through the app.
Contact
If you have questions about this policy or the app, reach out to:
Greg Roy
[email protected]
Full contact page