North of 60 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids North of 60 |
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North of 60
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| Created by | Barbara Samuels Wayne Grigsby |
| Starring | Tina Keeper Tracey Cook Tom Jackson Robert Bockstael Gordon Tootoosis Jimmy Herman |
| Country of origin | Canada |
| No. of seasons | 6 |
| No. of episodes | 90 plus 5 made for TV movies between 1999 and 2005 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 45 minutes per episode |
| Production company(s) | SEVEN24 Films |
| Release | |
| Original network | CBC Television |
| Original release | 3 December 1992 – 18 December 1997 |
North of 60 was a popular Canadian TV show from the 1990s. It showed what life was like in a small, fictional Indigenous community called Lynx River, located in the Northwest Territories of Canada. The show's name comes from the fact that this area is north of the 60th parallel, a line of latitude on maps.
The series first aired on CBC Television in 1992 and was shown in many countries around the world. Most of the characters were from the Dene First Nation. The show explored important topics like cultural traditions, community challenges, and how people worked together in the North.
At first, the show was a bit lighter, but it quickly became a serious drama. It explored different storylines, including community leadership, economic challenges, and personal struggles. It also featured romantic stories, which added to its unique feel.
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Meet the Cast and Characters
The show featured many talented actors. Tina Keeper played Michelle Kenidi, an RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) officer. Tom Jackson played Peter Kenidi, Michelle's brother and a community leader. Gordon Tootoosis played Albert Golo, another important community member.
Other key actors included Tracey Cook as Sarah Birkett, the town nurse, and Dakota House as Trevor 'Teevee' Tenia, a young person who grew up in the community. Lubomir Mykytiuk played Gerry Kisilenko, who owned the local store and motel. Jimmy Herman played Joe Gomba, a respected elder.
Main Characters in Lynx River
| Character | Actor | Seasons | Role in the Community |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michelle Kenidi | Tina Keeper | 1-6 | An RCMP officer and sister of Peter Kenidi. |
| Eric Olsen | John Oliver | 1-2 | An RCMP officer who moves to Lynx River. |
| Sarah Birkett | Tracey Cook | 1-6 | The town's nurse and a helpful friend. |
| Peter Kenidi | Tom Jackson | 1-6 | Michelle's brother and a community chief. |
| Albert Golo | Gordon Tootoosis | 1-6 | A strong community leader, sometimes a chief. |
| Brian Fletcher | Robert Bockstael | 3-5 | An RCMP officer who takes over from Eric Olsen. |
| Trevor 'Teevee' Tenia | Dakota House | 1-6 | A young man who grows up and becomes a community leader. |
| Bertha Kizha | Lori Lea Okemow | 1-6 | Teevee's girlfriend and later, the mother of his child. |
| Lois Tenia | Willene Tootoosis | 1-6 | Teevee's mother and daughter of Elsie Tsa Che. |
| Gerry Kisilenko | Lubomir Mykytiuk | 1-6 | The owner of the local store and motel. |
| Elsie Tsa Che | Wilma Pelly | 1-6 | A wise elder and grandmother to Teevee. |
| Harris Miller | Timothy Webber | 1-6 | The community's band manager, working closely with Peter. |
| Rosie Deela | Tina Louise Bomberry | 1-6 | A waitress and clerk at Gerry's store. |
| Leon Deela | Erroll Kinistino | 1-6 | Rosie's husband and a skilled construction worker. |
| Ellen Kenidi | Renae Morriseau | 1-5 | Peter's wife and a social worker. |
| Joe Gomba | Jimmy Herman | 1-6 | A respected elder and skilled hunter. |
| Hannah Kenidi | Selina Hanuse | 1-4 | Michelle's daughter. |
| Nathan Golo | Michael P. Obey | 1-6 | Albert's son. |
| Joey Small Boat | Mervin Good Eagle | 1-5 | A teenager in Lynx River. |
| William MacNeil | Nathaniel Arcand | 3-6 | A young man from outside Lynx River. |
| Rosemary Fletcher | Julie Stewart | 4-5 | Brian Fletcher's wife. |
| Andrew One Sky | Michael Horse | 4-6 | A psychologist who becomes a friend to Michelle. |
| Charlie Muskrat | Simon R. Baker | 4-6 | A young boy Michelle takes into her home. |
| Sylvie LeBret | Michelle Thrush | 2,5-6 | A friend and later love interest for Peter. |
| James Harper | Peter Kelly Gaudreault | 5-6 | An RCMP officer who replaces Brian Fletcher. |
Adventures in Lynx River: Season Highlights
The series ran weekly from 1992 to 1997, showing how the characters and their community changed through the seasons.
Season 1: New Beginnings
RCMP Corporal Eric Olson arrives in Lynx River and learns about the town's unique challenges and its people. Michelle deals with past difficulties, and Sarah tries to find her place in the community. Peter faces challenges as a community leader.
Season 2: Community Projects and Personal Growth
The town works on a new project, a tannery, which brings both hope and conflict. Gerry invests his savings in the project. Teevee learns about being a father. Sarah faces personal struggles and finds support from Albert. Eric deals with family issues. The tannery project eventually faces problems, and Michelle has to make a difficult decision during a dangerous situation.
Season 3: Changes in Leadership and New Faces
Albert becomes the new community chief. Rosie finds her footing again, and Gerry hires her as a business partner. Sarah helps run a treatment center. Peter considers moving for work. A new RCMP officer, Brian Fletcher, arrives to replace Eric. Characters deal with personal health challenges and community rules.
Season 4: Family, Loss, and New Discoveries
Sarah welcomes a new baby, leading to discussions about family and traditions. Gerry faces personal difficulties and learns about his family's history. Hannah, Michelle's daughter, returns to Lynx River with a changed attitude. Michelle searches for Hannah and finds support from Andrew One Sky. Rosie uncovers secrets about her family's past. Brian and his wife, Rosemary, deal with challenges in their marriage. Teevee faces relationship issues, and Harris and Lois plan to marry. Michelle experiences a profound loss, and the community supports her.
Season 5: Building Futures and Facing Challenges
Teevee starts a sawmill business to create an honest living. Brian and Rosemary think about adopting a child. Michelle becomes a mother figure for Charlie. Sarah and Albert navigate co-parenting their child, Elizabeth, leading Joe Gomba to make a special decision to support Sarah. Andrew One Sky pursues his own business goals. Rosie and Gerry grow closer as Rosie deals with challenges in her marriage. Brian passes away. Albert's house burns down, and he disappears, leading to questions about what happened. The community debates building a new road, and Charlie deals with his difficult past.
Season 6: New Paths and Resolutions
Constable James Harper replaces Brian Fletcher, and Michelle investigates Brian's death. The road construction begins, giving Teevee a job, but also involving him in protests. Michelle faces a personal attack. Rosie confronts her husband about his actions. Lois has a baby. Michelle considers leaving her RCMP job. Sarah and Nathan learn surprising news about Albert when he returns. Gerry thinks about leaving Lynx River and shares more about his past with Rosie, leading to a special moment between them. Peter deals with the consequences of his past actions. Harper is ready to arrest Albert, but Albert has his own plans for how things will end.
- The story of Brian Fletcher's death continues in later North of 60 movies.
TV Movies: Continuing the Story
After the TV series ended, five special made-for-TV movies were created to continue the stories of the characters. These movies allowed fans to see what happened next for their favorite people in Lynx River. They include:
- In The Blue Ground (1999)
- Trial by Fire (2000)
- Dream Storm (2001)
- Another Country (2003)
- Distant Drumming (2005)
Behind the Scenes
A soundtrack album for North of 60 was released in 1994. It included the show's theme music, background music, and songs sung by Tom Jackson and other artists.
The series was filmed in Bragg Creek, Alberta, Canada. The provincial park there was often seen in many episodes and in the TV movies.
Why North of 60 Was Important
North of 60 is known for being a significant show that explored Indigenous culture and life in rural Canada. It was one of the few TV shows at the time that showed Indigenous cultures in a thoughtful and realistic way.
Even after the show stopped airing, fans really wanted to see it again. They asked for the episodes to be shown on TV again and for a DVD release. While DVDs were never released, APTN (Aboriginal Peoples Television Network) decided to re-air the episodes regularly. The CEO of APTN, Jean La Rose, said that the show was very popular when it first aired, attracting almost a million viewers each week. He noted that fans missed the show, so APTN was happy to bring it back. APTN also offers the series for digital streaming on its website.
North of 60 has a dedicated fan base, often called a cult following. There's a very active private Facebook group with over 10,000 members. There's also a fan website created by Patty Winter, which features interviews with many of the actors. This website was even mentioned in a university textbook called Outside Looking In: Viewing First Nations Peoples in Canadian Dramatic Television Series.
Most of North of 60 was in Canadian English, but it also included some Slavey language, Canadian French, and Ukrainian language. For example, Lubomir Mykytiuk, who played Gerry Kisilenko, included Ukrainian language and a song in the show. He even used his own family photos for a scene that showed a family scrapbook from Ukraine, making the show even more personal and real.
