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Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Express Tribune
North of North review: warm hearts in the icy Arctic
A long, long time ago, when I was in grade three, we had a geography book called First Series Geography, by A.B. Archer & that was published by Gin in 1936. Each chapter was about a child belonging to different areas of the world, which included Hirfa in the Arabian desert, Bombo in the Congo, and Pedro in the Andes Mountains. However, the second chapter was about a boy called Tooktoo who lived in Baffin Island, located in Canadian High Arctic territory of Nunavut. I remember there were some black and white pictures of igloos and seals. That was my first impression of Eskimos and the cold, cold Arctic. From then up until now, apart from news or documentaries about the Arctic, I haven't had the opportunity to see or learn much about the northern-most part of the world, particularly in drama format. However, the title of a new Netflix series North of the North intrigued me. It might sound like a documentary, but it isn't. In fact, it is the perfect film series to watch in Pakistani summer. With Netflix, I have travelled to India, Spain, China, Korea, Japan, Kuwait, US, Norway, Austria and Italy, and now reached the highest and the coolest place on earth, in North of the North. It is set in set in a remote village deep in the Arctic region of Canada, where snow blankets miles and miles of rolling hills and flat land, ice grey waters lap the icy shores, and even in spring and summer, the characters are bundled up in fur hats, puffy jackets, and sealskin boots. Sitting snug in the Arctic Circle, is the fictional town of Ice Cove where lives the close-knit Inuit community. This is where the heart of the North beats. Give me as many series around small-town shenanigans as you like, with any number of episodes, as long as it is picturesque, there is great community spirit and everyone's nose is in everyone's business so that they love, eat, pray together in any beautiful part of the world, and I will lap it up. Co-produced with CBC in partnership with APTN, North of North happens to be a significant milestone for Netflix, as well as the larger Canadian entertainment industry. As the first production of its scale filmed in the Arctic Canadian territory of Nunavut, it brings to us the fascinating cultural and geographic richness of Canada's northernmost territory. Created by Stacey Aglok MacDonald, an Inuk film and television producer from Kugluktuk, Nunavut, Canada, and Alethea Arnaquq-Baril, an Inuk filmmaker, known for her work on Inuit life and culture, the show follows a young Inuk woman Siaja (Anna Lambe), pronounced See-aa-ya, who is a 26-year-old homemaker married to highly admired Ting (Kelly William), and mother to a seven-year-old named Bun (Keira Belle Cooper). Longing for something more substantial in her life, she dumps husband Ting when she feels he doesn't see the person in her, other than her prescribed roles as a good Inuk woman. She moves in with her mother and brick by brick, she builds something for herself. The upbeat soundtrack which is a mix of pop hits is notable. It includes Inuktitut-language covers of pop hits and original pop music by Inuit artists. Wait, but who are Inuks, you must be wondering. Inuks, or Inuit, are indigenous peoples who traditionally inhabit the Arctic regions of North America, Canada, Eastern Russia, Alaska and Greenland. The word "Inuit" means "the people" in their language, Inuktitut, and "Inuk" is the singular form. They have a strong connection to their land and increasingly prefer to be known by the names they use in their own languages, such as Inupiaq or Yupik. Historically, they used to have a nomadic lifestyle that centred around fishing and hunting seals, whales, caribou, and walruses, for food, clothing, and tools. But now they are mostly sedentary and live in heated homes and not igloos! While "Inuit" is the current term used in Alaska and across the Arctic, and the word Eskimo is fading from use. The Inuit Circumpolar Council prefers the term "Inuit" but some other organisations still use the word Eskimo. Although the setting is unique and offers fascinating visuals, we have come across the storyline and plot of this light comedy series several times before — the young woman making up her mind about dumping a husband who doesn't see the person in her, an alcoholic mother and her backstory, and a father appearing in your life so that you and your kid both have to work on repective relationships with him — we have been there before. The community centre, Siaja's efforts to liven up the weekly 'elders' night,' by bringing young people in after tempting them with slushies, fundraising, town baseball match, and small-town camaraderie is shared by a number of serials. Ofcourse, all these activities and ideas make great content for fun episodes. Lambe is thoroughly winning as Siaja. I can't imagine better casting as she is perfect for her character of an energetic young woman who is navigating through the messes in her life, and being determined to fight what she can't instantly beat. Her ethnic Innuit beauty, her traditional hair styles with braids and beads, her magnetism and her aptitude for getting into trouble and out of it, makes her a delightful and unforgettable character. You might find it revolting or gross to see that raw meat is party food for them, and grown-ups and kids alike, nibble or munch on it like brownies, but the fact that their sealskin boots are not chemically treated and get destroyed by salt that is typically used on icy roads, comes as interesting nuggets of information about their lives, so the Inuits sand roads instead of salting them. The 'white-person' reference, casually used quite a few times in the series, mostly pertaining to the Helen (Mary Lyn Rajskub), non-Inuit/Canadian manager of the community centre in the fictional town of Ice Cove, is done in a light, non-abrasive and funny way. Since Helen is Canadian, she often doesn't know or understand the Inuit way of things, their traditions or customs. Looking at the harsh terrain, the weather conditions and the freezing cold shown in the series, one wonders curiously, what kind of gargantuan effort, time and resources have been put in to produce a show like North of the North. Since both Aglok MacDonald and Arnaquq-Baril are Inuit women who live in the Arctic, a lot of what you see in North of the North is life experienced firsthand. "It was crucial to film a show about Arctic in the Arctic and it's incredibly challenging doing something of this scale there," said Aglok MacDonald in an interview. "It cannot be replicated anywhere." The series was shot in the spring of 2024, still a time when they wear furs and boots. Filming in the far North may sounds like quite an adventure, but apparently the creators, cast and crew not only battled the harsh weather and the monumental task of moving everything across vast distances, but even something as simple as fly-away hair became a major hurdle when hairspray froze solid! During the filming in Iqaluit, Nunavut's real-life capital and most populous city, where the local curling rink was used as the production stage for the show's sets, hundreds of people from the town helped bring the show to life. Along with the 45 cast members, there were 500 locals serving as background actors — even the mayor! Not just that, the work behind the scenes involved over 300 Canadian crew members, and over 225 Canadian vendors including more than 60 from Nunavut, who worked on the production that took 61 days and 20 shooting locations across Nunavut and Toronto. "In the North, we have such a strong sense of community," Arnaquq-Baril said. "And we think that we have something to teach the big cities all around the world about what it means to live in community and be there for each other." With community camaraderie, romance, and laughter, the show taps into universal themes of family dynamics and the search for identity. Its powerful and successful portrayal of Indigenous communities, peoples, and their long-suppressed cultures, certainly qualifies a second season. The series shines a light on their strength and determination in protecting their heritage and societies, despite being colonised in the past. The show also brings into spotlight indigenous voices that need to be recognised, respected, represented. More productions about native communities in the US, the Aboriginal Australians, and Māori communities in New Zealand would create a presence and awareness about them, instead of a complete absence from media and entertainment. Once you start watching these heartwarming characters going about their intriguing lives in the icy Arctic, you won't remember the heatwave outside. By the way, I found out that Tuktu means caribou. In Inuit culture, names are often chosen to reflect a connection to the environment, and caribou are a significant part of Inuit life. While "tuktu" might be used as a name, it's more common to refer to the caribou themselves as "tuktu," reflecting the importance of this animal in Inuit culture and
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Gold ulu heads to Hockey Hall of Fame to mark Nunavut's historic Arctic Winter Games win
It was an offer so special, David Clark thought at first it must be fake. But the offer was real, and now Clark's gold ulu from the 2023 Arctic Winter Games (AWG) is going to be displayed at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. Clark was the coach of Nunavut's U18 male hockey team when the team defeated Alaska at the 2023 games in Alberta to bring home the gold. It was the territory's first gold in hockey at the AWGs. "I couldn't be more proud," Clark said about his gold ulu going on display. "You know, like, I'm just a kid from Nunavut and I never thought I would go to the Hockey Hall of Fame for anything. "Getting my gold medal at the Hockey Hall of Fame and having those boys be part of it just means the world to me. I'm getting emotional just talking about it." The hall of fame's interest began with a recent visit from a group of young hockey players. Lee Barter is a youth hockey coach in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). He's helped to facilitate a youth hockey exchange where teams from southern Ontario visited Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, and Rankin players visited the GTA. While the Nunavut players were in Ontario, they visited the Hockey Hall of Fame archives. Barter said the museum had set aside special Nunavut items like Jordin Tootoo's jersey. Tootoo is a Rankin-born former NHLer and was the first Inuk to make the major league. Barter said his team told archives staff that several of the players on prior exchanges had been part of the gold-winning AWG team, and the hall of fame was interested in acquiring a jersey or gold ulu to pay tribute to the win. "When they realized that there was a historic moment that had happened that they could commemorate, they were happy to reach out and we were excited to help make the connection," Barter said. Having had many of the players on that winning team participate in the exchange, Barter said it's been special to follow those players' progress as young athletes and see the AWG win. "We were very proud of them from here in Toronto, so we're obviously excited to see that they'll be celebrated at the hall of fame," he said. For Clark, the recognition shows the value of working hard and dreaming big. "I knew when we were going there, I said, 'we have the team.' We got the team and I believed when we left that, hey, we're going to win." A ceremony to induct Clark's gold ulu into the hall of fame will take place this summer in Toronto.
Hamilton Spectator
12-05-2025
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
Promoting good health in Rankin Inlet creates a rewarding career
As a public health nurse in Rankin Inlet, Angnaluaaq (Tia) Friesen's work is focused on preventative health and being proactive to ensure people in her community stay healthy. 'What I really like is working upstream, like preventing things before they happen, ' Friesen said. A good part of that work for Friesen is public outreach and health promotion throughout the community. 'It would be going to the schools to educate kids on how to wash your hands, or talking to the middle school or high school about smoking cessation, smoking reduction or vaping, and really trying to prevent people getting seriously sick down the road, or preventing illnesses from going around. 'It's really fun to go out to the community and to have that connection.' 'And another reason why I like to go to the schools is to show other young Inuit that they could also go to school, even at a later point in life; it doesn't have to be right after high school to go to college or go to university. 'It can be later where you have other life experience, and you're able to mature and I find having this kind of job is really beneficial for my own independence because it's really empowering,' Friesen said. May 12 – 18 is National Nurses Week and a time to celebrate the vital role nurses provide in the health care system. This years' theme is The Power of Nurses to Transform Heath. Friesen said her public health work also includes clinic appointments for newborn babies and children, plus immunizations or early detection for anemia or other health issues. She also does TB or sexual health screening in her daily work. And while she said there is always 'pushback' on some health topics, she gets enjoyment from the fact that she is always learning something new in her role that ultimately increases the quality of care for her patients. After studying to become a nurse in Nova Scotia, Friesen said she was happy to return to her hometown to care for her family and to see many familiar faces. 'And it's nice that when people come in the clinic every once in a while and say that it's nice to have an Inuk nurse,' she said. 'What I like about providing care at public health is when people are taking care of themselves and putting themselves first. And for some people, that's really hard to do.'
National Observer
09-05-2025
- National Observer
Inuit group calls for Nunavik Police reform after latest fatal shooting
A political organization that represents Inuit in Quebec says policing in the Far North is "broken" after an officer shot and killed an Inuk man on Tuesday. The shooting by the Nunavik Police Service is the second officer-involved death in the northern region since November, and has reignited anger and trauma in Nunavik. The Quebec coroner's office identified the victim as Mark R Annanack, 35, of Kangiqsualujjuaq. Makivvik, a group that represents the Inuit of Nunavik, said in a scathing statement this week there is a pattern of police using excessive force in the region. "Makivvik is calling for immediate and exceptional measures," the organization said, adding that while an independent investigation is necessary, other actions must follow. "This crisis demands substantial structural change in the way policing is delivered across Nunavik, we cannot wait for another report while more lives are put at risk." Makivvik head Pita Aatami asked how many families must suffer before the province "understands that policing in Nunavik is broken?" "This latest tragedy is not isolated: it reflects a systemic failure in the way policing is delivered in Nunavik,' Aatami said. "Despite repeated warnings, commitments, and investigations, police interventions continue to fail our communities. We condemn this fatality, and we demand immediate and measurable accountability.' Quebec's police watchdog — Bureau des enquêtes indépendantes — said members of the Nunavik Police Service had planned to arrest someone who was inside a tent in the Inuit village on the eastern shore of Ungava Bay. The police force said in its own statement that officers had a warrant for the man, but the force said he resisted when two officers tried to arrest him about 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Makivvik, a group that represents the Inuit of Nunavik, said in a scathing statement this week there is a pattern of police using excessive force in the region. "Makivvik is calling for immediate and exceptional measures," the organization said. The police force said officers used pepper spray on the man, who they say emerged from the tent with a knife. An officer tried to subdue the man with a stun gun, but as the situation evolved an officer opened fire and the victim was later declared dead at a regional health centre. Quebec's police oversight agency announced Wednesday it was investigating the shooting in Kangiqsualujjuaq. Nunavik Police Service has declined to comment further. Nunavik officers are equipped with body cameras, and the police service confirmed video has been shared with the watchdog agency. Makivvik said the latest death reflects a failure of the police force to de-escalate a situation or employ a level of cultural understanding. In November 2024, an officer shot and killed Joshua Papigatuk and seriously injured his twin brother Garnet after police responded to a call about alleged impaired driving in Salluit, about 1,850 kilometres north of Montreal. The Quebec police watchdog is also investigating that killing. Following Papigatuk's killing, Makivvik said it has worked with the Kativik Regional Government to create the Nunavik public safety committee, tasked with reforming policing practices, ensuring better accountability and engaging with local community leaders in the region. "The committee's mandate includes reviewing use-of-force policies, advancing Inuit-led oversight, and co-ordinating with communities directly impacted by police violence," the organization said. Kativik Regional Government said in its own statement the police watchdog needs to move faster on investigations in Nunavik, with a "firm agreement to produce complete final reports within six months." They also want the watchdog agency to convene public meetings with communities and review investigation results with them. They should also publish reports in Inuktitut. A spokesman for Quebec Indigenous Affairs Minister Ian Lafrenière said he was in contact with Makivvik's president. "I offered him my support in these very difficult times for everyone," the minister said in a statement, adding he would keep close tabs on the watchdog agency's investigation. Jake Lamotta Granato, a spokesman for the coroner, said coroner Francine Danais will investigate Annanack's death.
Global News
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Global News
‘Policing in Nunavik is broken': Inuit group wants change after latest fatal shooting
The political organization that represents Inuit in Quebec says policing in the Far North is 'broken' after an officer shot and killed an Inuk man on Tuesday. The shooting by the Nunavik Police Service is the second officer-involved death in the northern region since November. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Makivvik, a group that represents the Inuit of Nunavik, says there is a pattern of police using excessive force in the region. In a news release, Makivvik head Pita Aatami asked how many families must suffer before the province 'understands that policing in Nunavik is broken?' The organization says the latest death reflects a failure of the police force to de-escalate a situation or employ a level of cultural understanding. In November 2024, an officer shot and killed Joshua Papigatuk and seriously injured his twin brother Garnet after police responded to a call about alleged impaired driving in Salluit, about 1,850 kilometres north of Montreal.
