There is most likely an app for just about anything and, as of March 2, Oneida Nation of the Thames has its own information app.
It’s been in the works for about a year, advises spokesperson Clara Hill, and a soft launch was undertaken earlier this month.
She explains, “We wanted something that everyone could access and people weren’t forced to rely on social media.”
Hill continues, “We wanted it as accurate as possible. Like, basically, they say excite from mouth to mouth. We wanted it ss simple as possible, as straightforward as possible, and as accessible as possible. And reliable as possible.
“So we wanted something that they could access without having to, you know, sign up for something or doing information because a lot of people don’t want to give out their information or within a digital privacy. We wanted something that they could engage with.”
Hill details the type of information that will be available for the Oneida community.
She adds, “We’re also going to have any kind of documentation that we feel needs to be put out.”
The Oneida app will have several access points, according to Hill.
“So there’s three kind of walls. There’s public, which everyone can have. There’s user registration, which means just as a regular user, anyone can be a user. And then there’s specific content that’s just for Oneida band members, and you have to register for that within the app as well.”
The app will also provide emergency alerts.
Hill explains they worked with Edmonton-based Aivia on their Communikit digital platform to adapt it for the needs of the Oneida community.
With wide access to the app as of today, Hill enthuses, “I really feel like this app is the really big next step to bridging a lot of gaps that we have right now in communication with people.
“I am very excited to see this launch. It’s kind of been my little baby project for the last year, so to see it actually coming into fruition is really, really exciting for me, and also seeing the engagement that we’re already getting with our soft launch is big.”
Written by Ian McCallum
