North of North Reaches Top 10 Most Popular Shows on Netflix
Arctic comedy series North of North is now streaming on Netflix. Having premiered on CBC earlier this year, the full series made its debut on Netflix on April 10, reaching the top 10 most popular shows on the streaming service in Canada in its first week. Co-created and produced by Alethea Arnaquq-Baril and Stacey Aglok MacDonald of Red Marrow Media, North of North follows young Inuk mother Siaja, played by Anna Lambe, who dreams of reinventing herself after a spontaneous, very public exit from her marriage. Filmed in Iqaluit, NU, North of North is Netflix’s first Canadian original series and is co-produced by APTN, CBC and Netflix.
Arsaniq Deer Receives an Indspire Award for Her Tattooing Practice
Traditional tattoo artist Arsaniq Deer is one of the winners at this year’s Indspire Awards, which honour Indigenous individuals who demonstrate outstanding achievements in a plethora of fields. As a recipient in the Youth category, Deer was recognized for her work in revitalizing kakiniit and tunniit practices at an awards ceremony in Vancouver, BC, on April 10. Originally from Quaqtaq, Nunavik, QC, Deer first encountered the history and practice of traditional Inuit tattooing while she was a student at Nunavik Sivunitsavut in Montreal, QC. Since beginning her tattoo practice under the mentorship of renowned artist Hovak Johnston in 2019, Deer has tattooed hundreds of clients in the North and South.
Joshua Qaumariaq’s Work on the Cover of the 2025 Northwestel Directory in Nunavut
Inuk artist Joshua Qaumariaq has won this year’s Northwestel Directory Art Contest, which has been running for 46 years and offers Northern artists a platform and a $5,000 prize. Qaumariaq’s digital artwork Nanurluk Shapeshifter (2024) has been selected for the cover of the 2025 Northwestel Directory in Nunavut. The piece draws inspiration from stories of the vast Nunavut landscape as told in his community. The nanurluk on the cover comes from a story told by Qaumariaq's grandparents about a giant polar bear shapeshifter whose fur is covered in ice. Raised in Iqaluit, Qaumariaq's creative journey spans digital art, painting and music. He performs with his band, The Trade-Offs, and contributed a song to the TV show North of North. The 2026 contest opens in September, inviting more artists to share their visions.
Four Inuit Make the 2025 Sobey Longlist
The 2025 Sobey Award longlist was announced on April 16 and this year includes four Inuit artists: Inuvialuk painter, multimedia artist and curator Darcie Bernhardt; writer, multidisciplinary artist and designer Tarralik Duffy; heritage crafts artisan, fabric artist, printmaker and painter Shirley Moorhouse; and artist and jewellery designer Mathew Nuqingaq, CM. All four were nominated in the Circumpolar category, which was added last year, alongside Tlingit artist Megan Jensen. The six shortlisted artists will be announced on June 3, and their work will be featured in an exhibition at the National Gallery of Canada (NGC) from October 3, 2025 to February 8, 2025. The winner will be announced during a celebration at the NGC in Ottawa, ON, on November 8.
Robert Kautuk’s Work on View at the Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives
Photographer Robert Kautuk’s work, A Daily Drive (2019), was installed as part of a new public art installation at the Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives earlier this month. Based in Kangiqtugaapik (Clyde River), NU, Kautuk uses a digital SLR camera and drone technology to capture stunning views of rarely seen moments in the Canadian Arctic. Recently, he participated in exhibitions Dark Ice (2022–23) at the Ottawa Art Gallery (OAG) and We Are Story: The Canada Now Photography Acquisition (2023) at the Art Gallery of Ontario. A Daily Drive, presented as a triptych of large-scale banners on the facade of the building in Brampton, ON, captures three snowmobilers, each positioned in a separate panel, travelling in a straight line. The strong linear composition gives a clear sense of movement across a wide, open landscape. Presented as part of the core programming for the 2025 CONTACT Photography Festival in Toronto, ON, in partnership with the Peel Art Gallery, Museum and Archives (PAMA) and the OAG, A Daily Drive will be on display until September 7, 2025.