Born Goes First, she is a young Indigenous woman of the Crow nation who grows up grounded in traditional teachings and survival skills. After experiencing early tragedy, she develops a fierce, resilient character, mastering horse riding and shooting. Her marriage to a white fur trader brings her into direct contact with the hostile prejudices of settler communities, forcing her to constantly defend her identity. She refuses to abandon her traditions, finding strength in her heritage when facing violent adversaries.

Farwell is a white fur trader and Civil War veteran attempting to establish a prosperous trading post in Cypress Hills. He genuinely falls in love with Crow Mary and admires her competence, but he carries the cultural biases of white settler society. He struggles with past alcohol addiction and often finds his good intentions compromised by his loyalties to hostile white acquaintances and his own belief in western superiority.

An elder in the Crow tribe and the brother of Crow Mary's grandmother. After a tragic loss, he steps in as a mentor to young Goes First, teaching her practically and spiritually. As a keeper of traditional stories and values, he provides essential cultural grounding for his family during a time of rapid, aggressive expansion by white settlers.

A large, aggressive wolfer who previously saved Farwell's life during the Civil War. He operates in the territories around Cypress Hills and harbors intense hatred for Indigenous people. He frequently uses racist intimidation tactics, manipulates others with alcohol, and represents the direct physical and psychological threat of colonial expansion.

A young Métis woman raised with a hybrid Blackfoot and Scottish heritage. Having experienced the isolation of an orphanage, she understands the distinct challenges of living between cultures. She befriends Crow Mary early in her marriage, teaching her English and helping her maintain her Indigenous pride while adapting to life alongside white traders.

Crow Mary's younger brother who grows up to be a proud, capable Crow warrior. He remains fiercely dedicated to the traditional ways of his people, participating in communal raids and firmly resisting government pressures to abandon his cultural identity for an agrarian lifestyle.

The firstborn daughter of Crow Mary and Abe Farwell. Growing up in a bilingual household, she learns both English and the Crow language, standing squarely at the intersection of her parents' differing, often clashing aspirations for her future education and identity.

The son of Crow Mary and Abe Farwell. He experiences the complexities of his mixed heritage while growing up in an environment increasingly dominated by white agricultural expansion, caught between his mother's roots and his father's ambitions.

The youngest child of Crow Mary and Abe Farwell. She gradually gains physical strength and becomes a crucial source of comfort to her mother during turbulent, isolating times on the reservation.

A skilled young Crow warrior known for his success in athletic competitions and hunting. He recognizes Goes First's strength and actively pursues her as a future wife. He holds the white wolf as his sacred spirit animal and plays a significant role in setting Goes First on her eventual life path.

The leader of the Crow village and father to Crow Mary and Strong Bull. He manages the difficult politics of trading with white settlers for weapons to protect his people, leading him to support his daughter's marriage to a white trader for the benefit of the community.

The chief of a group of Nakoda people who arrive at Cypress Hills. Fleeing starvation and harsh winter conditions in their own territory, he attempts to secure shelter and resources for his suffering community, only to encounter severe hostility from local wolfers.

A young Nakoda woman who survives a brutal winter journey to reach Farwell's trading post. Having lost her infant to the harsh conditions, she forms a quiet but meaningful connection with Crow Mary, which later spurs Crow Mary to risk her own life.

A hostile wolfer based out of Solomon's fort. Known for his aggressive hatred of Indigenous people, he frequently incites violence and falsely accuses native groups of theft to justify his brutal, unprovoked attacks on their camps.

A mounted police officer in Canada who investigates violent clashes between wolfers and Indigenous groups. He represents the western justice system, attempting to bring legal order to the frontier territories, though he often fails to grasp the systemic biases of his own courts.

An older white man employed as a cook at Farwell's expanding ranch. He forms a friendly bond with Crow Mary and helps care for the children, often providing a steady presence when tensions rise due to Farwell's erratic behavior.

A harsh fur trader living at the Métis village. He has a difficult personality and clashes frequently with his neighbors, reserving his affection solely for his personal dog, which puts him in direct conflict with the local wolfers.