“Nothing much, just a little Netflix show.”

Just a humble flex from Sāmoan Māori actor, comedian, and playwright Bailey Poching about what he’s been up to lately.

Poching plays the role of Colin, who, like the actor, is of Sāmoan Māori heritage, a communications officer and radio DJ for a tight-knit Arctic community in Netflix’s newest Canadian comedy series, North of North.

“I got cast really quickly and got flown up, suddenly I was going from my flat to living in a hotel in the Arctic for three months working on this sitcom,” Poching says in an interview with NiuFM’s The Morning Shack.

Set in a remote village deep in the Arctic region, the story follows a young Inuk woman, Siaja (Anna Lambe), reinventing herself after a sudden - and very public - exit from her marriage to the town’s “golden boy”.

Determined to forge her path, defy societal expectation, navigate motherhood, her first job, paternal reconnection, and dating again, all under the watchful gaze of her tiny town where anyone’s business is everyone’s business.

This seems overwhelming for one person to tackle, so cue Colin (Poching) for comedic relief.

“I play a radio DJ in this small town, a guy called Colin who's Sāmoan and Māori, he's just kind of like a best friend, support character and quite funny.”

Could Poching be the first Sāmoan to land a Netflix role? A question posed by co-host Gaby Solomona.

“Listen, I'm not going to make that claim,” Poching responds. “I'll let someone put that crown on my head, I'm not going to take it.”

To which Solomona and co-host Monica Ah-Young dub Poching as the unofficial first Sāmoan on Netflix.

Impact of on-screen representation

Poching says there has been plenty of positive feedback about the show, especially among native Canadian communities.

“The response has been really awesome. “First and foremost, it resonated with the Inuit community.”

An audience review on Rotten Tomatoes says they “loved learning” about the Inuit culture.

“Love this show - love learning about Inuk culture while enjoying the humour and drama! The characters are nuanced and engaging! Thanks for content that portrays indigenous life.”

Bailey Poching as Colin consoles lead character, Siaja played by Anna Lambe. Photo/Netflix

Another reviewer comments on the importance of authentic representation in the entertainment industry.

“This show caught me by surprise. Not only was it Canadian-made media on Netflix, it is representative of a culture constantly misunderstood by the masses.

“Besides its cultural significance, it is a cute story of self discovery and being a modern woman while honoring your roots.”

Totally immersed in the Inuit way of life

The Inuit are one of three recognised indigenous groups in Canada, along with First Nations and Métis.

Stretching right across the Arctic and Subarctic regions of North America and Russia, including parts of Alaska, Canada, Greenland, and the Chukotka Peninsula in Russia.

Zorga Quanaq as Millie and Bailey Poching as Colin in North of North. Photo/Netflix

Within Canada, Inuit populations are concentrated in Nunavik, Nunavut, and Nunatsiavut.

Inuit means “the people” in the Inuktuk language, and the singular of Inuit is Inuk.

“They're quite a nomadic people, historically, and so they travelled a lot around that belt,” Poching says.

“There was an ice road that melted, and so we were making comparisons to our Pasifika ancestors and the way they voyaged across the water.”

Poching found interesting similarities between Pacific and Inuk cultures that resonated with him. Where Pacific voyagers traversed the Moana, Inuit ancestors navigated the ice.

“They’re a canoe-based culture, but instead of rowing them, they would drag them across the ice.”

The series highlights culturally significant moments, such as food and food sources for the Inuit. Their diet primarily consists of meat, such as seals, whales, and moose.

“One other thing that I learned about the Inuit people is that they're badass, man. That's the way they survive - they hunt for everything and they use every part of the animal.

Examples of ulu or traditional Inuit blades used for cutting meat. Photo/Proudly Indigineous Crafts

“The clothes are all seal skin, they make earrings, and they use the bones for tools and yeah, badass people, man.”

Considering the cold temperatures and limited means of cooking, food is often consumed frozen, and traditional practices and instruments are used to prepare the meat.

Poching describes trying whale for the first time.

“They have these blades called an ulu, like the circular blade. They freeze it and shave it, and in modern times, would eat it with soy sauce and eat it like sashimi.

“It was really yum! The whale was kind of like pork and squid… it was like fatty but chewy and then had a slight fishy flavour. Yeah, it was yum.”

North of North is now showing on Netflix in Aotearoa New Zealand.