North of 60 is a 1990s Canadian television drama 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 Canadian Indigenous community 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 (a Ukrainian immigrant), the band manager, the nurse (a white Canadian woman) and (during the show's first season) the town's RCMP Detachment Commander. The show explored themes of Native poverty, alcoholism, cultural preservation, conflict over land settlements, and natural resource exploitation.
Originally somewhat light-hearted (a CBC response to the very successful Northern Exposure on CBS), it quickly became a more sombre dramatic series which explored subplots including murder, band corruption, economic depression, mental health and the death of a child (owing to actress Selina Hanuse, who played Hannah Kenidi, leaving the show to pursue her education in Season 3). There were also romantic and sexual subplots between unlikely characters, giving the show a distinctive soap opera-like atmosphere not hugely common in Canadian government-sponsored media at the time. This included scenes depicting brief sex, nudity and profanity, as well as discussion in one episode about HIV/AIDS and the social stigma faced by a young boy who was a male prostitute with the disease.
Casting 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 R. 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 two seasons and entered into an off-screen relationship with co-star Keeper; he left the show when his relationship with Keeper soured. Keeper subsequently became the show's lead actor for the remainder of its run. Oliver was replaced by Robert Bockstael as Corporal Brian Fletcher, who was replaced later by Peter Kelly Gaudreault as Constable James Harper.
One of the stars was Michael Horse, as Andrew One Sky, previously best known for his portrayal of Deputy Hawk in Twin Peaks and as Tonto in the 1981 film The Legend of the Lone Ranger. Tom Jackson also performed as Billy Twofeathers on Shining Time Station and was also a well-known singer and philanthropist in Canada.
List of characters Character Actor Seasons Summary Michelle Kenidi Tina Keeper 1–6 RCMP officer, sister of Peter Kenidi band chief. Eric Olsen John Oliver 1–2 RCMP officer, who transfers to Lynx River after losing his partner. Lindy Olsen Barbara Tyson 1–3 Eric's estranged, somewhat neurotic wife who later divorces him but returns to Lynx River after Eric's death in Season 3. Lisa Olsen Adrienne Carter 1–2 Eric's asthmatic daughter, who lives with Lindy most of the time. Andy Olsen Robbie Bowen 1–2 Eric's spoiled, bitter teenage son who resents his parents for the divorce. Eric is later disturbed in Season 2 after learning that Lindy's new live-in boyfriend, Bill, has been teaching Andy racism and derogatory remarks about Indigenous people, such as that they smell bad and carry lice. This leads to Hannah ending her friendship with Andy's little sister, Lisa. Sarah Birkett Tracey Cook 1–6 Nurse and treatment center therapist. Peter Kenidi Tom Jackson 1–6 Brother of RCMP officer Michele and band chief; has a son with his wife Ellen. Albert Golo Gordon Tootoosis 1–6 Bootlegger and former band chief. Brian Fletcher Robert Bockstael 3–5 RCMP officer, who replaces Eric Olsen. Trevor 'Teevee' Tenia Dakota House 1–6 Town trouble maker who becomes a portable sawmill operator, then band chief. He has a daughter with his girlfriend Bertha. Bertha Kizha Lori Lea Okemow 1-6 Teevee's girlfriend and later the mother of his two children. Lois Tenia Willene Tootoosis 1-6 Teevee's mother and daughter of Elsie Tsa Che. Gerry Kisilenko Lubomir Mykytiuk 1-6 A Ukrainian-Canadian resident, store and motel owner known for being somewhat unscrupulous but a good person. Elsie Tsa Che Wilma Pelly 1-6 Elder and medicine woman, also raised her granddaughter, Marie Tenia, and grandson, Teevee, to whom she often provides guidance. Her daughter Lois Tenia also lives with her. Harris Miller Timothy Webber 1-6 One of the few non-First Nations residents of Lynx River; band manager and works closely with Peter Kenedi. He later marries Lois Tenia, during which it is revealed that he is from Gagetown, New Brunswick. Rosie Deela Tina Louise Bomberry 1-6 Married to Leon with three kids, has a history of severe alcoholism. Works as a waitress/clerk in Gerry's store and restaurant. Leon Deela Erroll Kinistino 1-6 Rosie's husband and an expert construction worker, with a history of severe alcoholism. Ellen Kenidi Renae Morriseau 1-5 Peter's wife and a social worker. Betty Moses Tantoo Cardinal 3-6 An abrasive and loud but kind-hearted woman who runs treatment programs for Indigenous Canadians struggling with addictions. Betty herself struggles with mental health and addictions in Season 6, but is aided by Michelle. Joe Gomba Jimmy Herman 1-6 An expert tracker and hunter. Hannah Kenidi Selina Hanuse 1–4 Michelle's daughter, who moves to Calgary in Season 3. Nathan Golo Michael P. Obey 1–6 Albert's smartest son. Joey Small Boat Mervin Good Eagle 1–5 A Lynx River teenager (Joey stopped appearing in Season 6 due to the sudden death of Mervin Good Eagle). William MacNeil Nathaniel Arcand 3–6 A young man from outside of Lynx River who's usually looking for trouble. Rosemary Fletcher Julie Stewart 4–5 Brian Fletcher's wife. Andrew One Sky Michael Horse 4–6 A psychologist who befriends Michelle after a tragic incident. Charlie Muskrat Simon R. Baker 4–6 A young boy whom Michelle Kenidi takes into her home when his mother is unable to properly care for him. Suzie Muskrat Pamela Matthews 4–6 An alcoholic in treatment, the mother of Charlie Muskrat, and a friend of Michelle's and Sarah's. Sylvie LeBret Michelle Thrush 2, 5–6 Peter's love interest in later seasons James Harper Peter Kelly Gaudreault 5–6 RCMP officer, who replaces Brian Fletcher Maria Angelica Sangalli Norma Dell'Agnese 2 Maria Sangalli and her brother Claudio Sangalli (known collectively as just "The Sangallis", a homophone of "svengali") are a pair of eccentric siblings from Italy who try to partner in business with the people of Lynx River. The siblings are later charged with fraud and are arrested in Milan, leaving Lynx River's planned tannery project dead. Claudio Sangalli Louis Ferreira 2 Maria Sangalli's lesser-seen brother, who is also later arrested in Milan for fraud (see "Maria Angelica Sangalli" above) Lillian Boutilier Doris Chillcott 4 Harris's flaky adoptive mother, with whom Harris himself has a troubled relationship. Sister Simone Diana LeBlanc 1 The abusive and manipulative nun and teacher at the residential school where Peter and Michelle were sent as children. Sister Simone is eventually revealed to have abused Michelle physically and mentally, something which she never apologizes for, much to Michelle's disappointment. Father Smuts Vladimír Valenta 4, 6 The priest who marries Harris and Lois, and who aids Harris in Season 6 after Lois suffers from a stroke. While Father Smuts promotes Catholicism, he incorporates traditional Indigenous mysticism, culture and spirituality in his church. Lois trains under him in the hopes of becoming a lay minister. Donna Kizha Raven Hart 1 An older friend of Hannah's who suffers from mental impairment due to fetal alcohol syndrome; Donna is a victim of rape after a group of United States soldiers get her drunk in a motel room, and she frequently parties and sleeps around to cope with her anger. After a suicide attempt, she goes to nearby Hay River for treatment. Louis Claybank Byron Chief-Moon 1, 4 Hannah's estranged biological father, who she later goes to live with sporadically until her death in a later season. While Louis and Michelle are bitter towards one another, they later reconcile while searching for Hannah together. Leslie Baxter Janne Mortil 1 Sarah's nosy student intern who Teevee also has a crush on. Mary Cook Columpa Bobb 2–6 A Dene nurse hired to replace Sarah after Sarah's mental breakdown. While Sarah initially detests Mary, the two later become good friends. Kyla Tenia Samone Sayese-Whitney 2–6 The daughter of Teevee Tenia and Bertha Kizha. Ben "Dancing Bear" Montour August Schellenberg 3 A pretentious drunkard known for his impressive Indigenous artworks. Nevada Adam Beach 1–3 A male hustler and prostitute who befriends Teevee in Vancouver. In Season 3, Nevada is revealed to be HIV-positive, and is taken care of by Willie Tsa Che and Ben Montour, who give him a place to stay and an art project to work on. Elizabeth Golo Shelby Crowchild 4–6 The daughter of Sarah Birkett and Albert Golo. Elizabeth is later adopted as the step-granddaughter of Joe Gomba in Season 4. Gabe Coulee Ben Cardinal 1–2 A mean-spirited poacher who causes trouble in Lynx River. Daniel Deela Lorne Cardinal 4 Leon's brother, who moves in during Season 4, leading to a dispute over the land upon which Gerry lives. Inspector Cormier Yvan Ponton 1–6 Michelle's boss and advisor from the RCMP, also a quasi-father figure for her. Brenda Shore Stacy Da Silva 4–6 An adolescent girl who Brian Fletcher has an inappropriate sexual relationship with. David Shore Garwin Sanford 2 An anthropologist who has an extramarital affair with Michelle, but later breaks it off. Faith Robin Duke 4, 6 A homely, peculiar Revenue Canada worker with whom Gerry has a brief relationship with; Faith is into kinky fetish gear and BDSM, leading to bizarre antics in Season 4 and 6 between her, Gerry and later on Bill Kovalenko, a civil servant who happens to be visiting Lynx River for auditing.
Episodes Season 1 (1992–93)
Season 2 (1993–94)
Season 3 (1994–95)
Season 4 (1995–96)
Season 5 (1996–97)
Season 6 (1997)
Series The series ran weekly until 1997, and followed seasonal changes in character arcs:
Season 1 RCMP Corporal Eric Olsen moves to Lynx River from an undercover drug operation in Vancouver, becoming acquainted with the town's issues and citizens. Events of note include a physical run-in with local bad boy Trevor Victor "Teevee" Tenia, Eric's divorce from his wife, Michelle coping with an abusive former teacher who bullied her at the residential school, Leon trying to quit drinking (and subsequently marrying Rosie), a girl named Donna struggling with the impacts of fetal alcohol syndrome, Sarah having a romance with Eric, Teevee threatening to air an amateur porno tape he made of Eric and Sarah that he recorded while playing peeping tom in Sarah's window, Teevee running away to Vancouver and having a bad experience with local male prostitute and hustler Nevada, and Michelle trying to cope with the loss of her and Hannah's house in a fire, among other things. Sarah struggles to fit in as a white woman and is at odds with Ellen over the debate of having a natural home birth versus a hospital birth in Yellowknife. Albert Golo is shot by an unknown gunman after Leon and Rey pass out drunk in the cold, and Rey (Leon's best friend) freezes to death. Peter is revealed to have had an affair using Band money to pay for his mistress's accommodations, which Harris had helped to cover up.
Season 2