DRUMS Terms of Use

 

Effective Date:  November 6, 2025

 

About These Terms of Use

 

The Data Records and User Management System (DRUMS) is owned and operated by the First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC).  Access to and use of DRUMS is governed by these terms of use (“Terms”). By accessing and using DRUMS, Users accept and agree to the terms, conditions, and disclaimers contained in these Terms, and to the collection, use and disclosure of their personal information as described in these Terms and the Privacy Policy below.

 

FNESC reserves the right to change these Terms without notice, and such changes shall be effective when posted.  If any User does not agree to such amendments, they should discontinue their use of DRUMS.

 

Definitions

 

Community Staff:  Individuals employed by the First Nation who are authorized to access the School’s Student Data through DRUMS.

 

Contractors:  Individuals contracted by the School to support the delivery of an education program.

 

School:  A First Nation school that uses DRUMS.

 

School Staff:  Individuals employed by the School or the First Nation, as the case may be, to work in the School.

 

Student Data:  Student information stored in DRUMS, including student demographic data, educational records, medical records, and legal records.

 

Student(s): Student(s) enrolled in the School.

 

Users:  School Staff, Contractors or Community Staff that each School authorizes to access DRUMS and who have been assigned a username and password to access DRUMS. Users may also be FNESC staff or contractors hired by FNESC to support DRUMS and/or Schools.

 

User Data: Data stored in DRUMS about authorized Users. This will include first name, last name, name of School, email, username and password, and connectivity, technical and usage data (such as IP Address, unique device identifier, device type, internet service provider, hostname, region, and country).

 

1.           About DRUMS

 

DRUMS is a service used by Schools to store, maintain, and access School Data.

 

Schools may choose to authorize some of their Users to access and use DRUMS to store Student Data used by Schools for educational purposes. Schools determine whether to use DRUMS to: store Student information (including student demographic data); complete Report Cards; maintain Permanent Student Records; and support certain reporting requirements for Indigenous Services Canada and the Ministry of Education. 

To access DRUMS, Users must login. The School is responsible for creating an account for each User, with a unique login and password (“Account”).  Users are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality and security of all passwords and Account information.  From time to time, FNESC may establish and provide to Schools policies or procedures to ensure the security and appropriate use of DRUMS.  Each School is responsible for ensuring that it and its Users comply with those policies and procedures. 

 

2.           Acceptable Use of DRUMS

 

Users are responsible to use DRUMS only for the purposes of maintaining and managing School Data on behalf of the School, and supporting the operation and administration of the School.  

 

Users may not access and use DRUMS to engage in conduct that (a) is illegal or unlawful or constitutes a violation of any applicable statute or regulation; (b) is threatening, obscene, defamatory, harassing or abusive;  (c) results in the unauthorized distribution of confidential information or third party personal information or other material contrary to applicable laws, including under contractual or fiduciary obligations; (d) infringes intellectual property or proprietary rights vested in FNESC or third parties; (e) exposes DRUMS to viruses, cyber-attack, or any other computer code, files or programs designed to interrupt, destroy, monitor or limit the functionality of DRUMS or FNESC’s electronic systems; (f) amounts to a use of DRUMS or access to DRUMS for commercial purposes without FNESC’s express written consent; (g) is for the purposes of gaining unauthorized access to, or attempts to interfere with or compromise, the normal functioning, operation or security of any portion of DRUMS or any User’s Account; or (h) interferes with the ability of other authorized Users to access and use DRUMS. 

 

3.           Responsibilities of Users

 

Each User is responsible for all activities undertaken by them when using DRUMS. Schools shall be responsible for supervising the access to and use of DRUMS by their Users and ensuring that they comply with these Terms.

 

Users and Schools are responsible to promptly notify FNESC when: (a) their password has been stolen or accessed by an unauthorized person; (b) they suspect or become aware of any unauthorized access to or use of their Account and Account information; or (c) they become aware of any material breach of the Terms.

 

4.           Responsibility for Data

 

FNESC provides DRUMS to support Schools with storing and accessing School Data.  School Data accessed, stored or maintained by the School in DRUMS remains the property of the School, and FNESC does not use that data for its own purposes.  The School and its Users are responsible for ensuring the accuracy and completeness of the School Data and that all collection, use, and disclosure of the School Data by the School or its Users complies with privacy and other applicable laws.

 

FNESC collects and uses information about Users who are authorized by their School to access DRUMS in order to: identify and authenticate Users; administer their privileges to access and use the System; maintain security: and send communications about DRUMS. This includes monitoring the School’s and any User’s use of DRUMS for the duration of their use of DRUMS, including for security, maintenance, troubling-shooting, and incident investigation purposes. 

 

5.           Security, Risk and Service Interruption

 

FNESC has implemented reasonable technology and security features, as well as internal guidelines to safeguard the privacy of the data stored or accessed through DRUMS from unauthorised access or improper use. While FNESC makes reasonable efforts to ensure that this information is secure, no data transmission over the Internet can be guaranteed to be 100% secure or free from periodic disruption or interruption.  Users’ use of DRUMS is therefore not free of risk and Users’ use of DRUMS demonstrates their assumption of these risks.

 

FNESC has the right to suspend or end the School’s or any User’s use of DRUMS at any time in the event that its or their actions breach these Terms or threatens the security of DRUMS or any or all data stored in DRUMS.

 

FNESC is not responsible for unauthorized access to, loss, theft or destruction of any School Data that is caused by the failure of the School or its Users to maintain the privacy and security of Account information.

 

6.           Privacy of Users

 

FNESC respects the privacy of Users who access and use DRUMS. The DRUMS Privacy Policy explains the personal information that FNESC collects and uses about Users.  The DRUMS Privacy Policy forms part of these Terms, and by accessing and using DRUMS, Users acknowledge and accept the terms of the DRUMS Privacy Policy. 

 

7.           Proprietary Rights

 

DRUMS, its organization and design, and all information, images, artwork, text, video, audio, pictures and other materials, excluding School Data, on DRUMS are protected by copyright and other proprietary rights, all of which FNESC owns or has the right to use.  Nothing in these Terms authorizes or vests in Users or Schools any rights in or to DRUMS, including any rights to reproduce, resell or distribute any part of the System without express written approval from FNESC.

 

8.           Disclaimer

 

In no event shall FNESC be liable for any damages whatsoever, including special, indirect or consequential damages, arising out of or in connection with: (a) the use or performance of DRUMS or any interruption in service or information availability; (b) any unauthorized access to or use of School Data or any User’s personal information caused in whole or in part by the User’s failure to keep their Account information confidential or secure; and (c) any other unauthorized access to, use or disclosure of a User’s personal information or School Data, unless caused by FNESC’s intentional wrongful conduct or gross negligence.

 

9.           Other Agreements

 

Whenever a User identifies a potential conflict between these Terms and other agreements the User may have with their School, the User is responsible to promptly notify the School so that they can identify and/or address any potential conflict with FNESC.

 

10.        Choice of Law Jurisdiction

 

Except where prohibited by law, (a) these Terms, Users’ access to and use of DRUMS, and any claims made against FNESC arising out of such access or use or otherwise, will be governed by and construed and interpreted in accordance with British Columbia laws and the laws of Canada applicable therein, without reference to conflict of law rules; and (b) User agrees that exclusive jurisdiction and venue in any legal proceeding directly or indirectly arising out of or relating to DRUMS will be in the British Columbia courts sitting in Vancouver, British Columbia.

 

11.        Contact Information

 

For any further information, please contact the DRUMS Help Desk at drums@fnesc.ca

 

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DRUMS User Privacy Policy

 

 

Effective Date:  November 6, 2025

 

1.           Purpose of this Policy

This Policy explains how the First Nations Education Steering Committee (“FNESC”) collects, uses, discloses, and protects personal information in connection with the Data Records and User Management System (“DRUMS”).

 

DRUMS collects, uses, and maintains personal information of students and staff on behalf of First Nations schools.  The use of DRUMS may also result in some collection of personal information about Users.

 

If DRUMS Users have questions about the collection, use or disclosure of their personal information by their school or when they access and use the System, they should contact their School or the FNESC Privacy Office at privacy@fnesc.ca.

 

1.           FNESC

FNESC is a First Nations controlled non-profit organization focused on advancing quality education for all First Nation learners through policy and advocacy.  FNESC is responsible for operating DRUMS and making it available to First Nation Schools.

 

2.           What is DRUMS?

 

DRUMS is a service used by Schools to store, maintain, and access School Data.

 

Schools can store and access School Data on DRUMS, but the School continues to own its data and exercises responsibility for and authority over the collection, use and disclosure of that data.  Schools determine what data to store in DRUMS. 

 

3.           Who Are DRUMS Users?

 

This DRUMS Privacy Policy applies to Users of DRUMS.  Users may include School Staff, Community Staff and Contractors employed or engaged by Schools who have been authorized by their School to sign into DRUMS and access School Data. 

 

A limited number of FNESC staff members and contractors are also DRUMS Users.  They may access and use DRUMS to maintain the effective operation of DRUMS and to provide help to School Users. 

 

When Users access and use DRUMS, FNESC may collect some information about those Users.  This Policy explains how User Data is collected, used, disclosed and protected by FNESC.

 

4.           How User Data Is Protected

 

FNESC is subject to the BC Personal Information Protection Act and is committed to ensuring that the management and protection of all personal information, including User Data, through DRUMS complies with this legislation and all other laws applicable to the collection, use or disclosure of personal information.  FNESC provides protection measures including:

 

·         Organizational measures, such as training, the development and enforcement of privacy policies and procedures, limiting internal access to a need-to-know basis, and maintaining a privacy officer who supports the oversight of DRUMS.

·         Physical measures to ensure that the equipment and facilities used to store, maintain and access data are secure.

·         Digital or electronic measures, such as firewalls and encryption, to ensure that DRUMS and all data maintained through DRUMS is secure.

 

5.           The Basis On Which User Data Is Collected

 

FNESC relies on User consent for the collection, use and disclosure of User Data.  By accessing and using DRUMS, Users will be deemed to be consenting to the collection, use and disclosure of their personal information as described in this Policy. Users who do not wish to provide their consent should notify their School and should refrain from using DRUMS.

 

6.           How User Data is Collected and Used

 

FNESC collects personal information about Users. That information is collected and used by FNESC in order to: identify and authenticate Users; administer their privileges to access and use DRUMS; maintain security; and send communications about DRUMS. It includes first name, last name, the name of the School at which the User works, password, and login credentials.

 

FNESC reserves the right to monitor the School’s and any User’s use of DRUMS for the duration of their use of DRUMS, including for security, maintenance, troubling-shooting, and incident investigation purposes. 

 

When Users access and use DRUMS, FNESC automatically gathers and stores certain connectivity, technical and usage information about the visit for the purposes of administering DRUMS, assessing its performance, improving services, and maintaining security.  This User Data might include IP address, unique device identifier, device type, internet service provider, hostname, region, and country.

 

FNESC does not access, use or disclose School Data, except when requested by the School or required for operating DRUMS. 

 

7.           How User Data is Stored, Maintained and Shared

 

The User personal information stored on DRUMS is collected and used internally by FNESC and stored on servers based in Canada. FNESC may share some information with its employees and service providers to help maintain, improve or trouble-shoot DRUMS, but FNESC expects and requires employees and service providers to keep such information confidential.

 

8.           User Rights

 

FNESC works hard to ensure that all collection, use and disclosure of User Data through DRUMS is fully compliant with personal information protection laws applicable in British Columbia.

 

Under these laws, Users have the right to request access to User Data stored in DRUMS. 

 

Users also have the right to request correction of their User Data and to be told how their information is collected, used, and disclosed by FNESC.

 

Questions under this Policy may be directed to FNESC’s Privacy Officer at privacy@fnesc.ca.

 

9.           Changes to this Policy

 

FNESC reserves the right to make changes to this Privacy Policy at any time.  If FNESC makes changes, DRUMS will be updated to include such changes.  Such changes will be effective when posted.