Think of the furthest place north you’ve ever been. Now keep going — all the way to Ice Cove, Nunavut, the fictional Arctic town at the center of the new series North of North. Soar into Ice Cove in the above featurette and explore the breathtaking landscapes and sparkling personalities that bring this special place to life.

From creators Stacey Aglok MacDonald (Qanurli, The Grizzlies) and Alethea Arnaquq-Baril (Angry Inuk, The Grizzlies), North of North is a new comedy about what happens when you step outside of who you thought you were into who you’re meant to be. Netflix’s first Canadian original series, a co-production with CBC in partnership with APTN, follows Siaja (Anna Lambe), a young Inuk woman who wants to build a new future for herself after a spontaneous — and extremely public — exit from her marriage. But it won’t be easy in her close-knit community, where everybody knows your business.

Creators Aglok MacDonald and Arnaquq-Baril had previously worked together with executive producer Miranda de Pencier on the film The Grizzlies, and continued to exchange ideas about their next project after that film completed production. “North of North was the one we were most passionate about,” Aglok MacDonald told Netflix. 

Both she and Arnaquq-Baril are Inuit and live in the Arctic, so telling this story highlighting their community and culture was especially personal and meaningful. The story originated with Aglok MacDonald, “focusing on a young woman with a child trying to figure out a new life, [and] it’s become our collective baby,” recalled Arnaquq-Baril.

Keep reading to learn what you can expect from the upcoming series, consisting of eight 30-minute episodes.

What is North of North about?

North of North is about a young, modern Inuk woman coming into her own. “When we see Siaja in the beginning of the season, she’s quite frantic and insecure,” star Anna Lambe told Netflix. “We see her make some large and life-changing decisions that cause her to fall flat on her face in front of her entire community and force her to reevaluate her life and try to make it better.” 

Who is in the North of North cast?

See the full North of North cast and character details here.

• Anna Lambe (True Detective: Night Country, Trickster) as Siaja
• Maika Harper (Law and Order Toronto: Criminal Intent, Burden of Truth) as Neevee
• Jay Ryan (It Chapter Two, Mary Kills People) as Alistair
• Braeden Clarke (Little Bird, Outlander) as Kuuk
• Mary Lynn Rajskub (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, 24) as Helen
• Zorga Qaunaq as Millie
• Bailey Poching as Colin
• Nutaaq Doreen Simmonds (True Detective: Night Country) as Elisapee
• Keira Belle Cooper as Bun
• Kelly William as Ting

Watch the North of North TrailerThe new comedy series premieres on Netflix April 10.

Where can I watch the North of North trailer?

Right here! Watch Siaja try to find her true north in the above trailer.

Where is North of North?

North of North is set in the fictional town of Ice Cove, Nunavut in the Arctic Circle. While the series really did film all the way up north, it was actually in Iqaluit, the real capital of the Canadian territory of Nunavut, a bustling city of 8,000 inhabitants. 

Arnaquq-Baril was born and raised in Iqaluit, and Aglok MacDonald is from the western reaches of Nunavut but now lives in Iqaluit. “We wanted a show that felt real for us and Inuit everywhere,” said Arnaquq-Baril. “We wanted to be able to play with regional differences in clothing and fashion, slang, and senses of humor, while not being limited to one exact community.” Added Aglok MacDonald, “Nunavut is diverse, and Inuit communities differ greatly.”

Iqaluit is also Lambe’s hometown, so “shooting in Iqaluit has been so wild,” she said. “People constantly came up to me to hug me and let them know how proud they were of me and how exciting this was for the territory, 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. It pushed us to make sure we did our best work and represented the community in the best way because, ultimately, this is who we created it for.” 

Who is the creative team behind North of North?

Aglok MacDonald and Arnaquq-Baril of Red Marrow Media are the creators and executive producers of North of North. Miranda de Pencier of Northwood Entertainment (Anne with an E, Beginners, The Grizzlies), Anya Adams (Yellowjackets, Ginny & Georgia), Susan Coyne (Mozart in the Jungle, Daisy Jones & The Six, Slings & Arrows), and Garry Campbell (The Kids in the Hall, Less Than Kind) also executive produce. The series’ writers are Aglok MacDonald; Arnaquq-Baril; Kathryn Borel Jr.; Coyne, Campbell; Linsey Stewart; Moriah Sallaffie; Aviaq Johnston; and JP Larocque.

North of North’s directors include Adams, Aleysa Young (Baroness Von Sketch Show), Renuka Jeyapalan (Kim’s Convenience), Zoe Leigh Hopkins (Little Bird), and Danis Goulet (Night Raiders). All the directors for North of North are BIPOC women, which the creators couldn’t be more proud of. “There was a moment where Keira, our young actor who plays Bun, asked, ‘Why are all the bosses women on this show?’ ” said Arnaquq-Baril. “It was such a pleasure to hear from her because that’s definitely not always the case.”

Where can I listen to the music from North of North?

You can listen to the official North of North playlist below.

Who is Tanya Tagaq in North of North?

From Ikaluktutiak (Cambridge Bay, Nunavut), Tanya Tagaq is a renowned Inuk singer and performer who plays sea goddess Nuliajuk in North of North. Siaja meets her when she finds herself thrust into the freezing Arctic waters in Episode 1. “Shooting underwater with Anna Lambe and Tanya Tagaq, with Anna learning to swim and act at the same time, and Tanya swimming and being all elegant and beautiful — those women just killed it. That sequence was incredible,” said director Anya Adams.

A best-selling author, Tagaq is a member of the Order of Canada and a Polaris Music Prize and JUNO Award winner. She also lends her voice to three songs featured in the series: “Colonizer (Joel Tarman Remix)” by Tanya Tagaq featuring Kronos Quartet and “Uja” by Tanya Tagaq, both in Episode 1; and “Sila (featuring Tanya Tagaq)” by The Halluci Nation in Episode 4.

What is the North of North release date?

North of North is now streaming.

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