Charles is a non-Indigenous man who grew up on the Penobscot reservation in Maine. Raised by his Penobscot stepfather, Fredrick, Charles identifies deeply with Indigenous culture, though his lack of Indigenous ancestry makes him an outsider to many in the tribe. He maintains his sobriety through Alcoholics Anonymous and spends his days balancing a work schedule with caring for his aging mother. He carries a profound sense of isolation and longs to form a connection with Elizabeth, whose house he observes daily.

Elizabeth is a young woman who works as a teacher and lives with her parents, Mary and Roger, on the Penobscot reservation. She experiences long-standing mental health conditions, including severe depression and early childhood epilepsy, which disrupt her ability to work and care for herself. Having grown up believing Roger is her sole father figure, she remains disconnected from the complete story of her family history.

Louise is Charles's mother, a non-Indigenous woman who spent much of her life on the reservation after marrying Fredrick. She experiences worsening dementia and a resurgence of severe depression, which require increasing care from her son. Despite her memory loss and frequent confusion, she maintains a loving, if sometimes difficult, bond with Charles and holds tightly to the memory of her late husband.

Fredrick was a Penobscot man who served as a loving stepfather to Charles. Though he passes away before the events of the novel, his presence influences Charles's daily life. He was a practical, competent man active in tribal politics who opposed certain land deals with the US government. He taught Charles how to hunt, build, and respect Penobscot traditions.

Mary is an independent, strong-willed Penobscot woman who prioritizes her cultural identity and her daughter's place within the tribe. As a teenager, she successfully advocated for women's right to drum in tribal socials, showing her willingness to challenge traditions she finds unfair. She works for the tribal government and remains steadfast in the complex choices she made to ensure Elizabeth qualified for Penobscot enrollment.

Bobby is Charles's closest friend, an amiable man who struggles to maintain his sobriety and frequently self-medicates to cope with his past. Despite going through multiple divorces and unresolved personal traumas, he is a deeply loyal companion. He acts as a surrogate family member to Charles, regularly stepping in to help care for Louise when her dementia worsens.

Roger is a Penobscot man who lives with Mary and raised Elizabeth. Because of his Indigenous heritage, his name was placed on Elizabeth's birth certificate to ensure her tribal enrollment, and he fulfills the role of her father within the community.

Gizos is Charles's openly gay childhood best friend, a Penobscot man who eventually moves away, marries, and adopts a child. Their friendship suffered a severe fracture during their teenage years, largely stemming from community dynamics and the actions of Gizos's abusive father. Gizos remains protective of his cultural identity and cautious about who can claim it.

Lenno is Gizos's father and a prominent tribal leader who strongly advocates for a US government land deal. He is an abusive and manipulative man who served time in prison for manslaughter and weaponized false accusations against Charles to discredit Fredrick's political opposition.

Dave is Gizos's husband. He is a Lakota man who adopts a Coeur d'Alene boy with Gizos, raising their child away from the Penobscot reservation.