North of North

A young Inuk mother in a tiny, tight-knit Arctic town tries to reinvent herself after a spontaneous and extremely public exit from her marriage with the town's golden boy. She must navigate the unpredictable, and often hilarious, highs and lows that come with relationships, motherhood, a new job, and finding her own way.^[6] North of North addresses issues faced in Inuit communities through a comedic lens.^[4]

The creators of North of North sought to challenge the audience's views on gender norms, spirituality, and sexuality.^[4] After leaving her husband, Siaja looks for a job challenging traditional gender roles.^[7] In episode 6, Nevee's encouragement for Siaja to embrace sexuality challenges norms of sexuality being repressed in the presence of family.

Also central to the storyline of North of North, are traditional Inuit values, Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, such as sharing, respect for elders, as well as cooperation.^[8] The community centre where Siaja works shows how the community cooperates with each other, through services such as large item pickup, to maintain the effectiveness of Ice Cove. Sharing is emphasized when Siaja's daughter, Bun, shoots her first caribou, and the town gathers to allocate and share the meat. Respect and value for elders is emphasized in the community centre's and Siaja's efforts to make elder night more impactful.

The series was created by Stacey Aglok MacDonald and Alethea Arnaquq-Baril.^[17][18] Directors include Anya Adams, Danis Goulet, Zoe Leigh Hopkins, Lisa Jackson, Renuka Jeyapalan and Aleysa Young.^[19]

Filming began in Iqaluit, Nunavut on March 14, 2024^[20] and ended in June 2024.^[21] The Iqaluit Curling Club was turned into a sound stage featuring the interior sets for filming since there is no nearby filming studio.^[22] MacDonald and Arnaquq-Baril's Red Marrow Media is working to create a permanent studio but it was not ready in time for the show's first season.^[23]

Debra Hanson and Nooks Lindell worked as the costume designers on the show. They focused on local Inuit artisans and designers to source the Inuit clothing, shoes, and jewellery worn by the characters. "It was really important to us that our parkas and anything traditional were made here in Nunavut, by Inuit artists," says MacDonald. "They had to go to the ends of the Arctic to fashion the magnificent costumes that people will see on screen, which are unlike anything that's ever been seen before."^[24]

Arnaquq-Baril said she was overwhelmed by the support from Nunavummiut. "We get messages from people across the community just excited to be a part of it because a huge part of the community is in our show, on screen, and also working behind the scenes too."^[21] Iqaluit is also the hometown of Anna Lambe, who stars as Siaja. She said, "People constantly came up to hug me and say how proud they were of me and how exciting this was for Nunavut, for Inuit and Indigenous film and television. I wouldn't have wanted to film it anywhere else because the outpouring of love and support we received was so empowering."^[25]

The series premiered in Canada on APTN and CBC on January 7, 2025,^[26] and premiered globally on Netflix on April 10, 2025.^[27] North of North was renewed for a second season in April 2025.^[28][5] Season 2 is being filmed in Iqaluit and Toronto.^[29]

North of North displays many cultural elements central to Inuit culture.

In the first episode, Siaja encounters Nuliajuk, an Inuit sea goddess who controls the sea mammals.^[30] Nuliajuk is one of the most celebrated deities and is also one of the most feared in Inuit religion.^[30] Her role is central to Inuit identity, and she serves as a guide for Siaja throughout the series, emphasizing North of North's commitment to cultural narratives.

Nevee, Siaja's mother, wears tunniit (facial tattoos) or kakiniit (body and hand tattoos), which are usually found only on women, that may represent rites of passage, group of Inuit to which the women belongs, or representations of spirituality.^[31] Banned by Christian missionaries during the 20th century upon colonization, tunniit became practised again in the early 2000s, and many Inuit women wear them today.^[32]

The choice of costumes in North of North reflects modern Inuit clothing choices. Elements seen in the show include waterproof seal skin boots and parkas made from a blend of synthetic and natural materials, honouring cultural historic significance with modern functionality.^[33] Additionally, patterns on the parkas of Siaja and other characters traditionally communicate information about the wearer's age, kinship, and marital status.^[33]

Bannock, a staple of Inuit culture, is mentioned and depicted in several instances in North of North. Pre contact, bannock was made from plants indigenous to Inuit traditional territory. After contact, bannock began to be made from flour, and this is the version most known today. While once a staple for survival on reservations under the Indian Act, bannock has evolved into a cultural symbol for community and empowerment.^[34]