North of 60
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
North of 60 | |
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North of 60 |
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Format | Drama |
Created by | Wayne Grigsby |
Starring | Tina Keeper Tom Jackson Tracey Cook Gordon Tootoosis Dakota House |
Country of origin | Canada |
No. of episodes | 90, plus 5 made for TV movies between 1999 and 2005 |
Production | |
Running time | 45 minutes per episode |
Broadcast | |
Original channel | CBC |
Original run | 3 December 1992 – 18 December 1997 |
External links | |
IMDb profile |
North of 60 is a mid-1990s Canadian television series depicting life in the sub-Arctic northern boreal forest (north of 60 degrees 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 Slavey. 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), 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.[1] Keeper subsequently became the show's lead actor for the remainder of its run; Oliver was replaced, first by Robert Bockstael (playing Corporal Brian Fletcher) and 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 box office disaster, The Legend of the Lone Ranger, and for his co-starring role in Twin Peaks.
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 digital television station, CBC Country Canada and the cable channels Showcase and TVtropolis.
A soundtrack album was produced in 1994, including theme music, background music and songs performed by Tom Jackson and others.
It was filmed in Bragg Creek, Alberta, a town just west of Calgary. Calgary was also the filming location for several of the later TV movies. This series was also shot in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.