# North of North

North of North is a Canadian comedy television series that premiered on CBC, APTN, and Netflix in 2025.
Anna Lambe plays Siaja, a young Inuk woman in the small fictional Arctic community of Ice Cove.

## Synopsis

A young Inuk mother tries to reinvent herself after a spontaneous and extremely public exit from her marriage with the town's golden boy in a tiny, tight-knit Arctic town. She must navigate the unpredictable, and often hilarious, highs and lows that come with relationships, motherhood, a new job, and finding her own way.

## Cast and characters

* Anna Lambe as Siaja, a young Inuk mother who got married just out of high school, and wants to break out of the rut she's found herself in. She is a sweet and genuine, but awkward person. Though determined, her ambition is often stymied by her awkward nature.
* Mary Lynn Rajskub as Helen, the town manager.
* Keira Cooper as Bun, Siaja's daughter.
* Maika Harper as Neevee, Siaja's mother who raised her on her own. She is a recovering alcoholic with a harsh personality and a biting sense of humour who isn't afraid to tell it like it is. She runs a local general store.
* Braeden Clarke as Kuuk, Alistair's assistant.
* Jay Ryan as Alistair, Siaja's estranged father. He is a researcher for a company looking to build a research facility in Ice Cove. He only recently learned of Siaja's existence. It seems as though he still harbours feelings for Neevee.
* Kelly William as Ting, Siaja's husband and local "golden boy".
* Zorga Qaunaq as Millie, Siaja's friend.
* Bailey Poching as Colin, Siaja's friend who runs the local radio station.
* Nutaaq Doreen Simmonds as Elisapee, Siaja's coworker
* Tanya Tagaq as Nuliajuk.
* Vincent "Vinnie" Karetak as Jeffrey, the local owner of the dump.
* Taylor Hickson as Alexis.

## Production

The series was created by Stacey Aglok MacDonald and Alethea Arnaquq-Baril. Directors include Anya Adams, Danis Goulet, Zoe Leigh Hopkins, Lisa Jackson, Renuka Jeyapalan and Aleysa Young.
Filming began in Iqaluit, Nunavut on March 14, 2024 and ended in June 2024. The Iqaluit Curling Club was turned into a sound stage featuring the interior sets for filming since there is no nearby filming studio. Aglok 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.
Debra Hanson and Nooks Lindell worked as the costume designers on the show. They focused on local Inuit artisans and designers to source the 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 Aglok 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."
Arnaquq-Baril said she was overwhelmed by the support from the 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." 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."
The series premiered in Canada on APTN and CBC on January 7, 2025, and will premiere globally on Netflix on April 10, 2025.

## Episodes

| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original airdate date | Prod. code |
| 1 | "Top of the World" | Anya Adams | Stacey Aglok MacDonald & Alethea Arnaquq-Baril | January 7, 2025 (2025-1-7) | 478520-1 |
| Siaja, a young Inuk woman living in Ice Cove, is stuck in an unfulfilling marriage with her high school sweetheart, Ting, who is happy for her to be a stay-at-home mom. During a seal hunt, she falls overboard and hallucinates that she sees the goddess Nuliajuk. When Ting berates her for embarrassing him, Siaja abruptly decides to change her life, going to a party and kissing a stranger. At the local festival, she publicly breaks up with Ting after they are named king and queen of the seal hunt. ||||||
| 2 | "No Freeloading" | Anya Adams | Story by : Kathryn Borel, Jr. Teleplay by : Susan Coyne | January 7, 2025 (2025-1-7) | 478520-8 |
| Siaja and her daughter, Bun, crash at her mother, Neevee's home. After her mother warns her that she can't be a freeloader, Siaja gets a temporary job doing large item pickup for the town. After Siaja proves herself to be a great communicator, Helen, the facilitator of the community centre, offers her a job as her assistant. Neevee tries to facilitate a reconciliation between Siaja and Ting, but Siaja declares their marriage over. Neevee offers Siaja a more permanent place in her home. ||||||
| 3 | "Dumpcano" | Aleysa Young | Garry Campbell | January 14, 2025 (2025-1-14) | 478520-2 |
| Siaja starts her new job and is surprised when her first meeting involves talking to Alistair, her estranged father, about his proposal to set up a research station in Ice Cove. After Bun gets in trouble at school, Neevee takes her out for the day to find out what is wrong. ||||||
| 4 | "Joy to the Effing World" | Aleysa Young | Alethea Arnaquq-Baril & Linsey Stewart | January 21, 2025 (2025-1-21) | 478520-7 |
| Siaja is tasked with running elders' night. After seeing how dull it is, she takes it upon herself to liven things up, resulting in disastrous consequences. Neevee tells Alistair she wants nothing to do with him, but in a small town like Ice Cove, they find each other unavoidable. ||||||
| 5 | "Walrus Dick Baseball" | Renuka Jeyapalan | Moriah Sallaffie & Garry Campbell | January 28, 2025 (2025-1-28) | 478520-3 |
| A fun attempt to raise funds for Ice Cove takes on higher stakes when Helen agrees to a winner-take-all format instead of splitting the funds. Siaja and Kuuk grow closer, to Ting's consternation. ||||||
| 6 | "Carnivores" | Zoe Hopkins | Linsey Stewart | February 4, 2025 (2025-2-4) | 478520-4 |
| After a series of erotic dreams, Siaja's friends encourage her to have a one-night stand. A disastrous date with fetishist Oliver, helps her realize who her dreams are about. Alistair and Neevee attempt to give their relationship a try, but when Alistair brings up the past, Neevee calls their relationship off. ||||||
| 7 | "Lost and Found" | Danis Goulet | Susan Coyne | February 11, 2025 (2025-2-11) | 478520-5 |
| When Ting goes missing, Siaja's knowledge of his hunting habits helps to find him alive, but injured. To help with his recovery, Siaja temporarily returns to Ting's home, but finds herself falling into old patterns. Alistair encourages Neevee not to give up on them, only to be sorely disappointed when he realizes she's already moved on. ||||||
| 8 | "Bad Influences" | Danis Goulet | Story by : Aviaq Johnston & JP Larocque Teleplay by : Aviaq Johnston & Garry Campbell | February 18, 2025 (2025-2-18) | 478520-6 |
| Neevee reveals a secret to Siaja, explaining why she hid her from her father. Siaja gives a heartfelt speech about Ice Cove. Although the suits are impressed, they decide that Ice Cove will not get a research station. But they will get a satellite station, which Alistair will run. The community holds a celebration. Alistair tells Neevee he is staying for his daughter and granddaughter, not for her. Kuuk tells Siaja he is also staying. But so is his girlfriend, Alexis. ||||||