Netflix‘s North of North is a groundbreaking sitcom centered on a modern Inuk woman named Siaja (Anna Lambe), played with bold realism in a story that straddles humor and heartfelt discovery. Living in the Arctic town of Ice Cove in Nunavut, Canada, Siaja begins to question her identity as her life revolves around her husband Ting (Kelly William), and daughter Bun. After a life-changing near-death experience, Siaja starts a journey to find out more about himself. Her marriage is falling apart, she is couch-surfing at her mother Neevee’s house, and she is applying for a job at the town’s community center with Helen, a white Southerner. Siaja’s story is honest and charming as it unfolds.
Over the course of the eight episodes of the show, she is getting ready to present her argument for why the town ought to be the location of a new research center. Kuuk (Braeden Clarke), one of the young researchers who is visiting, becomes her chess partner, and sparks start to fly. Created by Inuit filmmakers, North of North doesn’t just entertain—it introduces viewers to the cultural intricacies of the Inuit world.
IS NORTH OF NORTH BASED ON A TRUE STORY?
North of North is a work of fiction, but it is heavily influenced by the authors’ real-life experiences. Stacey Aglok MacDonald was born in Kuglutuk and now lives in Iqaluit, Nunavut. Alethea Arnaquq-Baril, who helped make the show, was born and raised in Iqaluit as well. The show’s creators are both Inuk and have used their own personal, cultural and community experiences to make it what it is. The Grizzlies (2019)—a biographical sports film about young people’s strength in the Arctic, was the first project they worked together on together.
The characters in North of North—while not direct representations—are inspired by people the creators know or archetypes within the Inuk community. From the everyday challenges to moments of levity, the series reflects lived experiences of many Inuit women and families. Its realism stems from the writers’ room itself, which includes several Indigenous women who bring their perspectives into the narrative. Thus, even in its fictional storytelling, North of North represents a collective reality.
IS NULIAJUK A REAL NETSILIK INUIT GODDESS?
Yes, Nuliajuk is a real and revered sea spirit in Inuit mythology, known especially among the Netsilik Inuit. Her name, sometimes given as Uinigumasuittuq, translates to “the one who did not want to marry.” According to legend, her resistance to traditional roles angered her parents. As punishment, her father cast her into the ocean, slicing off her fingers when she clung to his kayak. These fingers transformed into the first sea creatures—seals, walruses, whales. Nuliajuk now lives at the bottom of the sea, controlling marine life and the ocean’s mood.
In North of North, Siaja has a vision of Nuliajuk after a fall into the icy waters. This spiritual encounter becomes a symbolic nudge for Siaja to follow a different path—one that deviates from societal expectations and rigid roles. The show weaves the legend of Nuliajuk into Siaja’s modern story, drawing poignant parallels between a mythological figure and a woman navigating self-liberation.
IS TUKTUKALIK A REAL TOWN?
No, Tuktukalik is not a real town. Like Ice Cove, it is another fictional element created for the show. The name “Tuktukalik” evokes a northern feel and is consistent with Inuktitut naming traditions, but there is no actual settlement by that name in Nunavut or elsewhere in Canada.
Creating fictional towns such as Tuktukalik allowed the creators to blend different aspects of Inuit culture without being confined to the representation of a single, real-life place. This way, the show becomes a mosaic of shared cultural elements, with enough artistic liberty to develop layered characters and narratives.
NORTH OF NORTH: FILMING LOCATIONS
Although North of North takes place in the fictional town of Ice Cove, the show was filmed in real locations across Nunavut. The creators opted for a fictional town to allow flexibility in storytelling while still drawing from real cultural and geographical references. This approach enabled the show to highlight the diversity across Inuit communities—from slang and fashion to customs and dialects—without being limited to portraying just one.
Filming in Nunavut, including areas near Iqaluit, gives North of North a visual authenticity that enhances its storytelling. The stark Arctic beauty, the simplicity of small-town life, and the genuine community interactions are all captured vividly. By shooting on location, the creators ensure that the visual texture of the show mirrors the cultural reality they aim to portray.
IS WALRUS DICK BASEBALL A REAL GAME?
Surprisingly, yes—Walrus Dick Baseball is based on a real game, albeit more as a cultural anecdote than an organized sport. It’s an example of the humor and resilience found within many Indigenous communities, where play and storytelling are intertwined. The game, referenced humorously in the show, involves tossing a preserved walrus penis bone—called an os penis—like a bat or stick.
In North of North, this quirky game becomes one of many moments that spotlight the blending of tradition and humor. It offers viewers a genuine glimpse into the light-hearted, self-effacing humor that exists in Inuit communities, where even taboo subjects become material for laughter and bonding.
North of North is more than just a sitcom—it’s a vibrant, culturally-rich narrative rooted in lived experience, ancient mythology, and community storytelling. While the town of Ice Cove and its characters are fictional, their experiences are grounded in truth. From the incorporation of real myths like Nuliajuk to the humorous nod to Walrus Dick Baseball, the show brings viewers into the heart of Inuk life with joy and nuance.
By presenting its world through the lens of creators who have lived it, North of North stands as a compelling example of authentic Indigenous storytelling. Whether through personal growth, family dynamics, or cultural rituals, every aspect of the series feels thoughtful and real.
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