North of 60
Encyclopedia
North of 60 is a mid-1990s Canadian
television series depicting life in the sub-Arctic
northern boreal forest (north of 60° north
latitude
, hence the title). It first aired on CBC Television
in 1992 and was syndicated
around the world. It is set in the fictional community of Lynx River
, a primarily Native-run town depicted as being in the Dehcho Region
, Northwest Territories
. Most of the characters were Dene
. Some non-native characters had important roles: the restaurant/motel owner, the band manager, the nurse and (during the show's first season) the town's main RCMP
officer. The show explored themes of Native poverty, alcoholism, cultural preservation and conflict over land settlements and natural resource exploitation.
Starring in the series were Tina Keeper
as RCMP Constable, later Corporal, Michelle Kenidi, Tracey Cook as Sarah Birkett (nurse during first year), Tom Jackson
as Peter Kenidi (band chief in first year, Michelle's brother), Gordon Tootoosis as Albert Golo (bootlegger, then band chief), Dakota House as Trevor 'Teevee' Tenia (teen trouble-maker, then band chief), Lubomir Mykytiuk as Gerry Kisilenko (restaurant/motel owner/justice of the peace), Jimmy Herman
as Joe Gomba (elder) and Simon Baker
as Charlie Muskrat. Adam Beach
and Tantoo Cardinal
also starred. Elsie Tsa Che (Wilma Pelly
) was a fan favorite, playing Teevee's grandmother, a community elder. John Oliver led the cast as Corporal Eric Olsen during the show's first season and entered into an off-screen relationship with co-star Keeper; he left the show when his relationship with Keeper soured.http://www.wintertime.com/OH/Nof60/nof60faq.html Keeper subsequently became the show's lead actor for the remainder of its run. Oliver was replaced by Robert Bockstael (playing Corporal Brian Fletcher) who was replaced later by Peter Kelly Gaudreault (playing Constable James Harper).
One of the stars was Michael Horse
, as Andrew One Sky, previously best-known for his portrayal of Tonto in the 1981 film The Legend of the Lone Ranger
.
It ran weekly until 1998, and was followed by a series of made-for-TV films that featured various members of the show's recurring cast. Reruns of North of 60 currently air on Canadian television stations DejaView
and TVtropolis
.
A soundtrack album was produced in 1994, including theme music, background music and songs performed by Tom Jackson and others.
It was shot in Bragg Creek, Alberta
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
television series depicting life in the sub-Arctic
Arctic
The Arctic is a region located at the northern-most part of the Earth. The Arctic consists of the Arctic Ocean and parts of Canada, Russia, Greenland, the United States, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland. The Arctic region consists of a vast, ice-covered ocean, surrounded by treeless permafrost...
northern boreal forest (north of 60° north
60th parallel north
The 60th parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 60 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane. It crosses Europe, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, North America, and the Atlantic Ocean....
latitude
Latitude
In geography, the latitude of a location on the Earth is the angular distance of that location south or north of the Equator. The latitude is an angle, and is usually measured in degrees . The equator has a latitude of 0°, the North pole has a latitude of 90° north , and the South pole has a...
, hence the title). It first aired on CBC Television
CBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
in 1992 and was syndicated
Television syndication
In broadcasting, syndication is the sale of the right to broadcast radio shows and television shows by multiple radio stations and television stations, without going through a broadcast network, though the process of syndication may conjure up structures like those of a network itself, by its very...
around the world. It is set in the fictional community of Lynx River
Lynx River
The fictional town of Lynx River was created in the CBC television series North of 60. In the series Lynx River was located near Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories...
, a primarily Native-run town depicted as being in the Dehcho Region
Dehcho Region
The Dehcho Region is one of five administrative regions in the Northwest Territories. The region consists of six communities with the regional office situated in Fort Simpson. All communities in the Dehcho are predominately First Nations.-Communities:...
, Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
. Most of the characters were Dene
Dene
The Dene are an aboriginal group of First Nations who live in the northern boreal and Arctic regions of Canada. The Dené speak Northern Athabaskan languages. Dene is the common Athabaskan word for "people" . The term "Dene" has two usages...
. Some non-native characters had important roles: the restaurant/motel owner, the band manager, the nurse and (during the show's first season) the town's main RCMP
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
officer. The show explored themes of Native poverty, alcoholism, cultural preservation and conflict over land settlements and natural resource exploitation.
Starring in the series were Tina Keeper
Tina Keeper
Tina Keeper, OM , is a Cree activist, producer, former actress and former member of the Canadian House of Commons.Keeper is best known for her role as RCMP officer Michelle Kenidi in the CBC Television series North of 60, about the fictional aboriginal community of Lynx River. She also hosted a...
as RCMP Constable, later Corporal, Michelle Kenidi, Tracey Cook as Sarah Birkett (nurse during first year), Tom Jackson
Tom Jackson (actor)
Thomas Dale Jackson, OC , is a Canadian born Métis actor and singer perhaps best known for the annual series of Christmas concerts, called the Huron Carole, which he created and starred in for 17 years...
as Peter Kenidi (band chief in first year, Michelle's brother), Gordon Tootoosis as Albert Golo (bootlegger, then band chief), Dakota House as Trevor 'Teevee' Tenia (teen trouble-maker, then band chief), Lubomir Mykytiuk as Gerry Kisilenko (restaurant/motel owner/justice of the peace), Jimmy Herman
Jimmy Herman
Jimmy Herman is a Dene/Chipewyan First Nations actor who has appeared in several films such as Dances with Wolves among others.He was born on the Cold Lake Reserve in Alberta, Canada....
as Joe Gomba (elder) and Simon Baker
Simon R. Baker
Simon Richard Baker III is an Aboriginal Canadian actor, of Cree, Haida, and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh descent. He hails from North Vancouver-Capilano, British Columbia. Baker began his filming career at the age nine in the movie Once in a Blue Moon...
as Charlie Muskrat. Adam Beach
Adam Beach
Adam Ruebin Beach is a Canadian Saulteaux actor.He is best known for his roles as Tommy on Walker, Texas Ranger, Kickin' Wing in Joe Dirt, Marine Private First Class Ira Hayes in Flags of Our Fathers, Private Ben Yazzie in Windtalkers, Dr...
and Tantoo Cardinal
Tantoo Cardinal
Rose Marie "Tantoo" Cardinal, CM is a Canadian film and television actress.-Career:Cardinal was born in Anzac, Fort McMurray, Alberta. Her mother, Julia Cardinal, was a Métis of Cree descent...
also starred. Elsie Tsa Che (Wilma Pelly
Wilma Pelly
Wilma Pelly is a Canadian film and television actress, best known for her roles as Elsie Tsa'Che in the CBC Television drama North of 60 and as Kookum in Mixed Blessings....
) was a fan favorite, playing Teevee's grandmother, a community elder. John Oliver led the cast as Corporal Eric Olsen during the show's first season and entered into an off-screen relationship with co-star Keeper; he left the show when his relationship with Keeper soured.http://www.wintertime.com/OH/Nof60/nof60faq.html Keeper subsequently became the show's lead actor for the remainder of its run. Oliver was replaced by Robert Bockstael (playing Corporal Brian Fletcher) who was replaced later by Peter Kelly Gaudreault (playing Constable James Harper).
One of the stars was Michael Horse
Michael Horse
Michael Heinrich Horse is an American actor, jeweler, and ledger painter.-Early life:Michael Horse was born in a Yaqui Native American reserve near Tucson, Arizona, and is of Yaqui, Mescalero Apache, Zuni, European and Latino descent...
, as Andrew One Sky, previously best-known for his portrayal of Tonto in the 1981 film The Legend of the Lone Ranger
The Legend of the Lone Ranger
The Legend of the Lone Ranger is a 1981 British-American western film directed by William A. Fraker and starring Klinton Spilsbury, Michael Horse and Christopher Lloyd....
.
It ran weekly until 1998, and was followed by a series of made-for-TV films that featured various members of the show's recurring cast. Reruns of North of 60 currently air on Canadian television stations DejaView
DejaView
DejaView is a Canadian English language Category B specialty channel owned by Shaw Media. It airs television shows from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.-History:In November 2000, Global Television Network Inc...
and TVtropolis
TVtropolis
TVtropolis is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Shaw Media and Rogers Media.The channel operates two time shifted feeds: East and West .-Programming:...
.
A soundtrack album was produced in 1994, including theme music, background music and songs performed by Tom Jackson and others.
It was shot in Bragg Creek, Alberta
Bragg Creek, Alberta
Bragg Creek is a hamlet in southern Alberta under the jurisdiction of Rocky View County in Division No. 6. It is also recognized as a designated place by Statistics Canada....
.