8.2 /10 1 Votes
7.8/10 TV No. of seasons 6 First episode date 3 December 1992 | 8.5/10 IMDb Country of origin Canada Running time 45 minutes per episode Final episode date 18 December 1997 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Created by Barbara SamuelsWayne Grigsby Starring Tina KeeperTom JacksonGordon TootoosisDakota HouseJimmy HermanNathaniel Arcand No. of episodes 90plus 5 made for TV movies between 1999 and 2005 Cast | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shooting north of 60
North of 60 is a 1990s Canadian television series depicting life in the sub-Arctic northern boreal forest (north of 60° 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.
Contents
Most of the characters were Dene. 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.
Originally somewhat light-hearted (a CBC response to the very successful Northern Exposure on CBS), it quickly became a more dramatic series.
Casting
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/justice of the peace), 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 two seasons and entered into an off-screen relationship with co-star Keeper; he left the show when his relationship with Keeper soured. Keeper subsequently became the show's lead actor for the remainder of its run. Oliver was replaced by Robert Bockstael as Corporal Brian Fletcher, who was replaced later by Peter Kelly Gaudreault as 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 film The Legend of the Lone Ranger.
Series
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.
A soundtrack album was produced in 1994, including theme music, background music and songs performed by Tom Jackson and others.
The series was filmed in Bragg Creek, Alberta.