‘North of North’ co-creators depict a different side of Inuit life
Nunavut-based comedy premieres on CBC, APTN Jan. 7 before spring Netflix streaming
Actress Anna Lambe is seen during shooting of “North of North,” a new comedy series that premieres Jan. 7 on CBC and APTN. The series was shot in Iqaluit last year. (Photo courtesy of Jasper Savage/Netflix)
Two Nunavut filmmakers are rather miffed at previous storytelling about Inuit.
So it shouldn’t come as a huge surprise that Stacey Aglok MacDonald and Alethea Arnaquq-Baril were keen to show the world a contrasting portrayal of Inuit life.
The pair teamed up to create North of North, an eight-episode comedy series that will premiere Jan. 7 on CBC and APTN. The series will then be streamed globally on Netflix this spring.

Stacey Aglok MacDonald, left, and Alethea Arnaquq-Baril, the co-creators of North of North appear at a media event in Toronto in December. The comedy series shot in Iqaluit in 2024 premieres on CBC and APTN on Jan. 7. (Photo by Sam Laskaris, special to Nunatsiaq News)
Aglok MacDonald, Arnaquq-Baril and Iqaluit actor Anna Lambe, who plays the lead character Siaja in the series, all attended a press day at the CBC studio in Toronto on Dec. 12 to promote the upcoming series.
Aglok MacDonald said non-Indigenous creators in the past have tended to portray Indigenous women as disposable or at risk.
“We wanted strong female characters that are powerful and that own their own physical being and sexuality,” she said of the series, which was filmed in Iqaluit but is set in the fictional Nunavut community of Ice Cove.
“And we wanted to portray Native men kind of opposite to how they’ve been portrayed as kind of dangerous or scary.
“We see our fellow Indigenous people as kind of like powerful and present but also like good fathers and sweet and gentle humans. Those are my uncles. We wanted to portray Inuit men as lovely, sweet, gentle people.”
The series focuses on Siaja, a young single mother who is trying to create a new life for herself following the end of her marriage.
For Lambe, who is 24, this is her first major lead.
“I was hungry for it,” she said. “For lack of a better word, I was desperate because I had only really done drama.”

Anna Lambe, an actress from Iqaluit, has a starring role as Siaja in North of North, a comedy series premiering on CBC and APTN on Jan. 7. She’s seen here at a media event in Toronto in December to promote the series. (Photo by Sam Laskaris, special to Nunatsiaq News)
Lambe was cast in the 2018 movie The Grizzlies. She has also had roles in various TV series, including True Detective, Three Pines and Trickster.
“Most of my roles had been quite heavy and sad and angry,” Lambe said.
“I do love doing that kind of stuff. I think drama is so much fun. But seeing that Stacey and Alethea were coming out with a comedy, I was like how do I become a part of this? What can I do? I will literally audition for every single role that’s on the page because I just want something.”
Lambe added being cast as Siaja was a dream.
“I cried,” she said.
“And I cried many times before hoping that it was going to be mine. And I cried many times after knowing that it was. I’m so grateful. The workload was intense and it was cold and it was exhausting. But I think the really beautiful thing about this project was such an incredible cast.”
Like Lambe, Arnaquq-Baril is thrilled that she branched out from her traditional roles to get involved with a comedic series.
“It’s such a joy,” she said.
“I didn’t think I had it in me. But Stacey made me do it. And I’m so glad. I still love documentary. I love drama. I love all the things. But I’ve totally fallen in love with comedy and no longer think of myself as somebody that does not belong in that space.
“I felt like a visitor at first. But I really, really love it and I’m never going to look back.”
Arnaquq-Baril said she was also eager to showcase the way she perceives Inuit life.
“There’s so much horrible, horrible work out there about Inuit that kind of gets it all wrong,” she said.
“First of all, people are shocked that we exist, first and foremost, in the present day. But then also there are so many misconceptions and stereotypes over a century of filmmaking. So, we’re really excited as Inuit women to collaborate on this project and show the world how we see it.”
“There’s so much horrible, horrible work out there about Inuit that kind of gets it all wrong…”
Any examples?
Nanook of the north is a good example
That’s not a bad one, anything more recent than 100 years ago though?
Agaguk – Shadow of The Wolf starring Lou Diamond Philips, Jennifer Tilly and Donald Sutherland is a perfect example of one of the worst
I was going to say Shadow of the Wolf but also include The Savage Innocents with Anthony Quinn.
Some great examples from when my great grandfather was still alive. Very relevant
You don’t have to look very hard to see inaccurate representations of Inuit in media. Whether it’s movies, TV shows, memes and online articles. Many people still believe we live in Igloos, don’t know anything about the outside world, and generally don’t think we have much to say about anything.
Yes, those movies listed are from a long time ago. However, the stereotypes portrayed in those films are still relevant in how most people see Inuit today.
It’s a reasonable question. Why get so defensive?
Not defensive, just different outlook than your own.
You have been presented with examples of media with inaccurate Inuk representation.
If I ask a question, I expect a response.
Is it really that difficult to understand that others – particularly Inuit – don’t agree with your opinion?
I haven’t given any opinion, I just asked a question. When you say “I just don’t get it” you seem to assume I’m being dismissive.
“You just don’t get it” is the person’s username. It wasn’t something they actually said to you, Curio.
I don’t think this was a defensive response. I asked a question about inaccurate and stereotypes of Onu people. You just didn’t happen to like the response. Your bias doesn’t invalidate the response you were given. Further,your question did not specify that you wanted only examples from within a stated spam of time. As we know, inaccurate statements can have lasting impacts.
You can blame the American education system and Hollywood for that. At least we in canada prioritize learning about our indigenous peoples and cultures, righting our wrongs. The US would rather ignore the fact that there are Native Americans in their country and continue to use indigenous peoples as caricatures just like we used to.
that’s a stinker, decent cast, not the best story.
A majority of media depicts Inuit as disconnected from society, alcoholics, are depressing, demoralizing reminders of trauma that still affects our communities.
It is nice to have something that is not entirely based around trauma, surviving, and reminding people that Inuit, do in fact still exist.
Sure, but those types of narratives are the ones many indigenous people zoom in on and amplify themselves.
100% agree
I am not a fan of Inuit/FN perpetuating their own stereotypes, and having projects revolving around trauma with on-the-nose dialogue.
However, in this case I’m happy that the show isn’t leaning heavily into the whole ‘colonizer this colonizer that’ shtick. It feels like an actual TV show, not a history lesson.
I’m looking forward to next Tuesday!
Imagine looking at the governing body that worked since 2016 nothing but pettiness and Hollywood style governing, take pics but nothing working for province
The type of qallunaat that ALWAYS comment on Nunatsiaq articles are some of the most negative people that ever have lived in Nunavut.
They are obsessed with being contrarians to ANYTHING Inuit do and say! It’s a narcissistic compulsion and it makes me question the moderators of these articles.
People should be excited that CBC and Netflix have the wherewithal to leave space for Inuit to tell their OWN STORIES in the mainstream. It’s sorely needed.
I am looking forward to the release of this show!
I see a few questions asked, but nothing negative. It’s too bad you can’t tolerate that, Consider the problem may be with you.
Electric eskimo is one of them and eskimo movies staring Anthony by Anthony Quinn
My bad for saying you just don’t get it and I see you haven’t given an opinion, but asked a question. When presented with responses to your question, you have given answers that were quite dismissive.
“Anything from when my great grandpa was alive?”
“Why get so defensive?”
I didn’t think anyone was being defensive – until I made the ‘you just don’t get it’ response. which looking back I do regret, so I apologize for that.
Absolutely love this show, a true gem! ❤❤❤
ALIANAIT, QUNGATUUNNANIARAPTA.
Love the show. Hopes it dispels many stereotypes and misconceptions. Hoping for huge success on Netflix.
Can’t wait to see the show and how it is portrayed, there better be drunk zombies walking around the streets and other zombies screaming at each other, oh and don’t forget the bums at all the stores in town and the cigarette searchers.
Wow! An opportunity to showcase landscape, traditions, relationships, fashion, in a real setting. Great comedy, Educational too! Wonderful family dynamics. Definitely a hit for Anna and the whole crew:)
Can I just say the ads for this show are horrendous with the DEI messaging of “thank you for sharing your traditional cultural knowledge with us.”
There has got to be a better way to represent minorities, FN and Inuit than pandering this checkbox tv. Make something of substance that shows the REAL north.
I love this, I am looking forward to the next episodes!
Congratulation’s Stacey, Alethea and the crew. Well done!