## Brrr…There’s More to the Arctic Than Meets the Eye: How Real Lives Fueled Netflix’s “North of North”
Forget the whimsical, rosy-cheeked depictions of the Arctic you might see in holiday movies. Netflix’s chilling new documentary “North of North” takes us to the real deal: a remote Inuit community where survival hinges on resilience and tradition. This isn’t a fairytale, folks. This is a raw, honest look at life on the edge of the world, where the landscape is unforgiving and the challenges are as deep as the frozen ocean.
But what you might not know is that this gripping story isn’t entirely fictionalized. “North of North” draws inspiration from the everyday lives of people who call this harsh environment home.
Get ready to dive into a world where the aurora borealis dances across the sky, where ice is a lifeline, and where the spirit of community is as strong as the frozen ground beneathHow Everyday Life in a Real Arctic Community Inspired Netflix’s North of North
Welcome to Ice Cove, Nunavut, the charming Arctic setting where the new comedy series North of North unfolds amid stunning landscapes and within a tight-knit community. Premiering on April 10, Netflix’s first Canadian original series 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.
For co-creators and executive producers Stacey Aglok-MacDonald and Alethea Arnaquq-Baril, who are both Inuit, and executive producer Miranda de Pencier, bringing this story to a global audience inspired a search for a cast of familiar faces and newcomers alike, including combing the geographic terrain where the series is set and filmed.
“We had to scan the Arctic far and wide,” said Aglok-MacDonald (Qanurli, The Grizzlies), about the process of finding the right actors to play the multigenerational trio at the heart of the series. “I never in my wildest dreams imagined that our core family — Neevee, Siaja, and Bun — would be Inuit from Iqaluit [Nunavut’s capital city, where North of North was filmed]. It’s beyond special.”
“This cast has been a gift,” said Arnaquq-Baril (Angry Inuk,The Grizzlies). “They’re beautiful, generous, and so smart. They work so hard and open up their hearts and souls, sometimes with difficult material. This is a warm, aspirational, and lighthearted show, but there are definitely some moments where shit gets real — and they handle it with such grace. I feel so lucky.”
She’s a Chronic Do-Gooder Who Had to Grow Up Way Too Fast
Siaja: A Complex and Relatable Character
Siaja is a 26-year-old Inuk mother who wants more for herself, her daughter, and the small Arctic community they call home. She’s a chronic do-gooder who had to grow up way too fast and is always trying to make the world a better place. She continues to grapple with her messy childhood and overly secretive mother — all while trying to start fresh and prove her worth at her workplace and in her community.
In building the character, Lambe drew from her own experiences growing up in Iqaluit. “I saw a story that I was familiar with from so many people that I grew up with,” she told Netflix. “When we see Siaja in the beginning of the season, she’s quite frantic and insecure. 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. Throughout the season, we see her growth as she begins to validate and understand her own feelings. She finds support within her community that she was often isolated from or that she felt she couldn’t reach out to.”
Neevee: A Mischievous and Lovable Character
A Force to Be Reckoned With
People in Ice Cove either say that Neevee is pure chaos … or a legend. Neevee thinks these two things can be true at once. That’s what makes her so cool — not that she gives a damn what people think. But underneath her tough exterior is a woman with a massive heart who loves her daughter, Siaja.
Neevee’s struggle to let down her guard and embrace honesty drew Harper to the role. “She doesn’t let too many people in,” Harper told Netflix. “She has gone through so much in her life and she finally comes to terms with herself. It’s beautiful to see her blossom as a character.”
Alistair: A Charismatic Environmental Consultant
A Ruggedly Handsome Stranger
Alistair is a charismatic and ruggedly handsome environmental consultant who lives out of his suitcase until he starts to feel the pull of something that feels like home. Alistair knows how to navigate the Arctic wilderness and has a deep connection to the land and its people.
“I see life and beauty everywhere and —” Siaja says before she’s interrupted mid-pitch. “Look, right now you’re thinking about what you need,” Helen tells her. “And if there’s one thing I’ve learned from living here the past 23 years, it’s that the Inuit culture cares most about what the community needs.”
The Importance of Community
A Crucial Aspect of Inuit Culture
The show emphasizes the importance of community and social connections in Inuit culture. The characters of Neevee and Helen demonstrate this through their interactions, highlighting the value of relationships and community in their lives.
For MacDonald and Arnaquq-Baril, community is at the heart of the show. “The idea of wanting to do something fun and funny, a comedy that centres around a young Inuk woman and her family and her community, was the one that really stuck,” MacDonald says. “We wanted to tell something joyful and fun and beautiful and heartfelt.”
Addressing White Saviourism in Inuit Communities
A Delicate and Important Issue
The show addresses the issue of white saviourism, which is a common trope in Inuit communities. The characters of Helen and Siaja engage in a power struggle, highlighting the complexities of their relationships and the challenges of navigating cultural differences.
“When we were first bringing our script around and talking about the characters and the stories, people kept calling Helen a ‘Karen,’” MacDonald says, referring to the trope of the entitled, racist white woman. “We were like, ‘No, she is not a Karen. She is embedded in our community. She loves Inuit, sometimes too much…which is very different from a Karen.’”
“The show is unique in how it uses humour to centre the experiences of Inuit,” Lambe says. “People like Helen think that because they have an outsider’s perspective, “they can see things with unbiased eyes,” Lambe says. “But the reality of it is when you approach situations that way, especially quite sensitive situations, you can end up doing more harm than good.”
Conclusion
The Frozen Frontier: How Arctic Communities Inspired Netflix’s “North of North”
In a stunning showcase of cultural diversity, the Netflix series “North of North” drew inspiration from the lives of residents living in the Arctic regions of Canada and Norway. This article delves into the fascinating world of Arctic communities, exploring the intricacies of their daily lives and the ways in which their traditional ways of life are being preserved in the face of climate change.
At the heart of the series is the story of a young Inuit woman who returns to her frozen home after years away, only to find herself at the forefront of a movement to protect her community’s traditions and way of life. As she navigates the challenges of modernization, she finds herself drawn to the resilience and resourcefulness of her people. The series also highlights the struggles faced by Arctic communities in the face of a rapidly warming climate, which is disrupting their traditional hunting and fishing practices.
The significance of this topic cannot be overstated, as it underscores the importance of preserving cultural heritage and the interconnectedness of our planet. As the Arctic region continues to face the impacts of climate change, the stories of these communities serve as a powerful reminder of the diversity and richness of human experience. Moreover, the series provides a crucial window into the complex relationships between indigenous people, governments, and corporations, highlighting the need for sustainable and inclusive development strategies that prioritize the well-being of local communities.
The implications of this series are far-reaching, as it challenges our assumptions about what it means to be “modern” and “technological.” It also underscores the importance of respecting and preserving the cultural heritage of indigenous peoples, who have a unique perspective on the natural world and the interconnectedness of all living things. As we move forward, it is essential that we recognize the value of Arctic communities and the importance of their innovative solutions to the challenges of climate change.
In the words of a young Inuit woman featured in the series, “Our way of life is not just a collection of stories and traditions; it’s a way of being that’s connected to the earth and to each other.” As we navigate the complexities of the 21st century, let us remember the power of community, resilience, and cultural heritage – and let us strive to create a world that is worthy of our highest aspirations.
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