Cast of North of North: Actors, Characters & Season 2 Guide

If you stumbled onto North of North and found yourself asking “wait, is that actually Iqaluit?” — you’re not alone. The Netflix comedy has quietly become one of the most talked-about Indigenous-led shows on air, and fans keep Googling the same things: who’s playing Kuuk, is the cast actually Inuit, and when is Season 2 dropping? This guide has the answers you’ve been hunting for, pulled from verified sources.

Stars: Anna Lambe, Maika Harper, Braeden Clarke · Genre: Arctic Comedy · Platform: Netflix · Seasons: 2 announced · Top Cast Count: 47 on IMDb

This table consolidates the core details about North of North, from series basics to cast and season status.

Who is the Maori guy in North of North?

Viewers searching for “the Maori guy” have found Bailey Poching in the role of Colin. Poching plays a queer Māori communications coordinator and radio DJ from New Zealand (Marie Claire), bringing global Indigenous representation to the Arctic comedy.

The casting decision reflects the show’s broader commitment to Indigenous representation beyond Canada’s borders. Colin serves as a bridge character — someone navigating life in Ice Cove while maintaining connections to Indigenous communities elsewhere. Poching’s casting represents one of the few times a Māori actor has appeared in a Canadian Arctic comedy series.

Is North of North cast indigenous?

Yes — the core cast of North of North features predominantly Indigenous actors. According to Marie Claire, creators Alethea Arnaquq-Baril and Stacey Aglok MacDonald recruited a cast of Indigenous actors from around the globe, including several hailing from the same northern town that inspired Ice Cove.

Anna Lambe, a Nunavut native born in Iqaluit around 2000, plays the lead role of Siaja. Her casting brings authentic Inuk representation to a lead character — a 26-year-old mother navigating life in Ice Cove. The show highlights Inuit culture in Arctic Nunavut with relatable comedy from tight-knit community dynamics.

Maika Harper plays Neevee, Siaja’s chaotic mother who struggled with addiction but is now sober for 10 years — a storyline that resonates with many Indigenous families. According to ScreenRant, the show boasts some of Canada’s best up-and-coming actors, most of whom are of Indigenous Inuk heritage.

Are the actors in North of North Inuit?

Many of North of North’s principal actors are Inuit. Anna Lambe (Siaja) is an Inuk actress from Nunavut, specifically Iqaluit. Her casting represents a growing trend of Indigenous-led productions casting actors who share the heritage of their characters.

Braeden Clarke plays Kuuk, an Inuk and Cree environmental researcher’s assistant with ties to Ice Cove. Clarke was born in 1988 in Alberta and hails from the Mikisew Cree First Nation. His dual heritage reflects the show’s commitment to representing the diversity within Indigenous communities.

Zorga Qaunaq plays Millie, a free-spirited colleague at the community center. According to Marie Claire, Qaunaq is a Nunavut native now based in Ottawa, and North of North marks her acting debut — demonstrating the show’s willingness to champion emerging Indigenous talent.

Nutaaq Doreen Simmonds plays Elisapee, a community center coworker and residential school survivor. This storyline, according to ScreenRant, adds historical depth rarely seen in mainstream comedy series, bringing intergenerational trauma into the spotlight through authentic Indigenous storytelling.

Is there a season 2 of North of North coming out?

Season 2 of North of North is confirmed and currently in production. According to industry reports, the announcement included a message to fans: “Get ready to return to Ice Cove, because season 2 of ‘North of North’ is on its way.”

What remains unclear is the full extent of cast changes for Season 2. Sources indicate the main cast returns, including Anna Lambe as Siaja, Maika Harper as Neevee, and Braeden Clarke as Kuuk. However, no specific Season 2 cast announcements have been made regarding new additions or departures.

The show remains Netflix’s first Canadian original series, co-produced with CBC and APTN (Aboriginal Peoples Television Network). The involvement of APTN ensures Indigenous oversight throughout production, maintaining the authentic voice that defined Season 1.

What town is North of North filmed in?

North of North was filmed in Iqaluit, Nunavut — the capital of Canada’s Arctic territory. According to Marie Claire, Iqaluit served as the real-world inspiration and filming location for the fictional town of Ice Cove.

Anna Lambe grew up in Iqaluit, Nunavut, where North of North was filmed — making her casting as Siaja particularly meaningful. The decision to film on location in the actual Arctic territory, rather than using studio sets or southern Canadian locations, ensures authentic landscape, climate, and community dynamics.

The fictional Ice Cove represents a composite of real northern communities, but filming in Iqaluit means viewers see actual Arctic infrastructure, buildings, and landscapes. This grounding in reality contrasts with typical Hollywood portrayals of the North and provides economic opportunity for local crew and businesses. For a deeper dive into the actors and characters, explore the Only Fools and Horses cast at Only Fools and Horses cast.

While Iqaluit serves as the filming location, the precise Arctic town that inspired Ice Cove specifically has not been officially disclosed. What is clear is that the fictional setting draws from authentic Nunavut community life, with storylines reflecting real challenges and joys of Arctic living.

The show boasts some of Canada’s best up-and-coming actors in its cast, most of whom are of Indigenous Inuk heritage.

— ScreenRant (Entertainment Publication)

Netflix’s new comedy North of North is a lighthearted, feel-good series that gives viewers a sweet peek into Inuit culture in the Arctic Circle.

— Marie Claire (Fashion and Culture Publication)

To cast the series, creators recruited a cast of Indigenous actors from around the globe, including several hailing from the same northern town that inspired Ice Cove.

— Marie Claire (Fashion and Culture Publication)

The implication: North of North represents a rare opportunity for Indigenous talent to tell their own stories on a major streaming platform. For Canadian viewers, the show offers an intimate look at Arctic community life rarely seen on national television. For Indigenous actors like Anna Lambe, Braeden Clarke, and Maika Harper, the series validates years of advocacy for authentic representation — their heritage on screen, not filtered through outside writers.

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