The Indigenous Staff Spotlights celebrate the voices, experiences, and career journeys of Indigenous faculty and staff at RRC Polytech.

Each story is an opportunity to recognize the success and contributions of our Indigenous colleagues while sharing their reflections and advice. By showcasing these diverse career pathways, the Spotlights highlight Indigenous excellence within our community and inspire colleagues, students, and future members of RRC Polytech to envision their own possibilities.

Adam Nepon

Job Title: Manager, Business Development- Health Transformation
Department/Team: – Corporate Solutions
Preferred Pronouns: He/Him/His

1. What inspired you to join RRC Polytech?

I was drawn to RRC Polytech because of the leaders here who had inspired me long before I became an employee. Their commitment to Truth and Reconciliation motivated me to deepen my own understanding and continue on a path of learning and unlearning. Joining RRC Polytech felt like an opportunity to contribute to that ongoing journey in a meaningful way.

2. What has been most rewarding about your work?

For me, it’s the ability to combine my professional skills in business and human resources with my personal commitment to Indigenous economic development. Supporting both colleagues and students to see their own potential and to know that their voices matter is incredibly rewarding.

3. What supports, resources, or relationships have been most meaningful in helping you succeed in your role?

My path has not been linear. I started university with big dreams, but I struggled with academics, eventually leaving with a 0.87 GPA. At the time, I thought that failure defined me. I stepped away, worked, and slowly rebuilt my confidence. Eventually, I returned to post-secondary at RRC Polytech, where I discovered a new direction in business administration that led to a graduate degree focused on Indigenous economic development. That experience was a turning point that reshaped my entire life and career. It helped me see that my setbacks weren’t the end of my story, but the beginning of a different one.

Along the way, I also became more aware of the complexity of my own identity. As someone with fair skin and male privilege, my cultural ties are often “invisible.” This has meant that I can step in and out of my Indigenous identity, depending on whether I feel safe or threatened. That privilege comes with responsibility: to acknowledge it, to use it to open doors for others, and to keep pushing myself to unlearn and relearn what it means to be Indigenous in this country.

4. What advice would you share with new Indigenous staff starting their careers here?

Your path doesn’t have to be perfect to be powerful. Sometimes setbacks are the very experiences that prepare you for success. Stay curious, ask for support, and know that your journey (whatever path it takes) can inspire others.

5. What Indigenous book, podcast, artist, business, or initiative would you recommend to others?

One that was a perfect read for me was Bob Joseph’s 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act. 

I encourage people to seek out local Indigenous voices, media creators, social media influencers, authors, businesses, artists, Elders, and community organizations. Each one contributes a piece of knowledge and perspective that helps us collectively reimagine what it means to be Indigenous. 

Today, I see this role at RRC Polytech as more than a job. It’s an opportunity to celebrate Indigenous excellence, inspire colleagues and students, and create space for authentic voices and experiences.  If there’s one thing I hope others take from my story, it’s that your path doesn’t have to be perfect to be powerful,” Adam says. “Keep going, keep learning, and remember—you belong here.”

6. Do you have a favorite quote?

This is paraphrasing Dawnis Kennedy, a previous Instructor for a course I did during graduate degree- Aboriginal Spirituality and Healing Ways, with regards to “being Indigenous”- …

There is no being a little bit Indigenous, you either are, or you aren’t.

For me during a time when I was questioning my cultural place it was very powerful when I was going through an internal battle of cultural identity.

If you are interested in sharing your story, please complete the online form here: Indigenous Staff Spotlights Submission Form

For questions or support, contact Indigenoustalent@rrc.ca.

We look forward to celebrating your journeys!