Insight into Inuk life through a new comedy series by locals
Filmed almost entirely in Iqaluit, Canada's northernmost city and the capital of Nunavut, the Netflix comedy series North Of North was created by Nunavut Inuits Stacey Aglok MacDonald and Alethea Arnaquq-Baril.
To me, it's an extraordinary series.
We see remote Inuit live through Inuit eyes, as an optimistic young woman sets about reinventing herself in her little Arctic hometown (where people know each other's business). She gets out form under her domineering husband, a town hero, finds a job and states her independence. Albeit with dry humour.
The 2025 series has eight episodes, with hopefully a second series to follow — as it's fresh and unusual, and takes the rest of us into daily life in Nunavut's ice.
There's some echo of the humour of Parks And Recreation, but mostly for me the series reveals contemporary Inuit culture and life, the stresses of remote living in a dramatic climate, and the limitations that young people face in such small communities.
Carrying the plot is 26-year-old Siaja (played by Anna Lambe, who spent much of her childhood in Iqaluit), a modern Inuk woman living in the town of Ice Cove — which immediately reminds me of the real town of Arctic Cove, in the accompanying story.
While the majority of North Of North was filmed in Iqaluit, which is on Baffin Island, some scenes were shot in Ontario. Filming began in March 2024, and ended in mid-June the same year. So, this is a very fresh series.
There are 45 Canadian cast members and around 500 took part as background actors (including the mayor of Iqaluit). There were more than 300 Canadian crew members.
There's the snow and ice, Ski-Doos and dogs — and beautiful locations, jewellery and fashion. Many costumes are from talented Inuit designers, including Victoria Kakuktinniq (of Victoria's Arctic Fashion), Winifred Nungak, Lavinia Van Heuvelen, Augatnaaq Eccles and Nancy Mike.
And there's lots of local music, including contemporary Inuit style throat singing by PIQSIQ, which is duo Tiffany Ayalik and Inuksuk Mackay.
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