Aahana Swrup
‘North of North’ is a riveting story about a young woman’s journey of leaving old inhibitions behind to find a new passion for life. It takes place in Ice Cove, Nunavut, an Inuk community in the Canadian Arctic, whose small-town quality ensures that everyone knows about everyone else’s business. This proves to be particularly unpleasant for Siaja, a modern Inuk woman who has an epiphany to dump her selfish yet golden boy husband, Ting, after a news-death experience.
Consequently, as the woman attracts all the wrong kinds of attention, she tries to blaze her own path while also juggling complicated relationships as a mother and a daughter. Siaja’s story begins with an unfortunate—and unplanned—dip in the icy cold ocean, where she glimpses at the ethereal figure of Nuliajuk, a Netsilik Inuit Goddess. Thus, since the deity inadvertently influences the rest of Siaja’s narrative, one can’t help but grow intrigued by her own origins.
Nuliajuk: The Netsilik Inuit Goddess Revered Across Inuit Cultures
Regardless of its many functionalities—including the characters and their central town—‘North of North’ remains remarkably authentic in its portrayal of the Inuk culture. As such, it’s no surprise that the Goddess, who becomes a subliminal influence over the protagonist’s storyline, is an actual spirit known and revered across Inuit cultures. Although her myth varies from region to region, she is generally believed to be a Sea Spirit who resides at the bottom of the ocean. The sea creatures and the ocean’s temperaments are said to be under Nuliajuk’s control, who can withhold sea mammals from human hunters if certain rituals and customs aren’t appropriately followed.
However, more than her dominion over the ocean, the story behind Nuliajuk connects the sea goddess to Siaja and her on-screen narrative. Originally, the deity was known as Uinigumasuittuq, a name which translates to “one that never wanted to marry.” This name references her adamant refusal to marry in her earlier days. Consequently, her actions vexed her parents, who were eager to have a son-in-law who could contribute toward the family’s survival through hunting. Nonetheless, when their daughter continued to rebuke their matrimonial efforts, her parents decided to abandon them.
Although there are different versions of how Nuliajuk’s story progresses from here, it ultimately brings her to her father’s kayak, clinging on while he tries to float away. In order to loosen her grip, the girl’s father cut off her fingers, compelling her to drown in the ocean where she resides to this day. Although there are other myths connected to the sea goddess, the story of her origin fits in perfect harmony with Siaja’s own complications in life. Even though she married young—unlike Nuliajuk—she finds herself questioning the legitimacy of her marriage once she begins to notice Ting’s selfish ways. As such, visions of the spinster spirit serve as a cosmic sign for the character to embrace her happiness outside of marriage, even at the cost of inviting the judgment of her community. Thus, by incorporating Nuliajuk’s real-life mythology into Siaja’s story, the show accentuates its Inuit roots while also creating thematic nuance.
