Daunis is an 18-year-old former hockey player and science enthusiast. As the daughter of a white French/Italian mother and an Ojibwe father, she constantly balances the differing expectations of her two family lines. She defers college to care for her grieving mother and struggles to find her place as a non-enrolled descendant of the tribe.

Teddie is Daunis’s aunt on her father's side and the Tribal Health Director. She acts as Daunis’s primary connection to her Ojibwe heritage and the Firekeeper family. Strong and intuitive, she provides maternal guidance and fiercely protects her relatives.

Levi is Daunis’s half-brother, born shortly after her due to an affair. He is a local hockey star playing for the Sault Sainte Marie Superiors. Friendly and popular, he bridges the gap between the reservation and the town's elite sports community.

“Jamie Johnson” arrives in Sault Ste. Marie as a new high school senior and Cherokee hockey player. He asks constant questions about the local community and Daunis's family. His sudden appearance and secretive nature immediately draw Daunis's suspicion and romantic interest.

Lily is Daunis’s best friend since sixth grade. She is an unenrolled Ojibwe descendant who presents as Native and understands the complex social dynamics of their community. She works at a summer recreational program and manages a highly stressful relationship with her ex-boyfriend.

Uncle David was a high school science teacher and Daunis's beloved maternal uncle. His recent death cast a shadow over the family, though his scientific teachings continue to guide Daunis's thinking. He openly lived as a gay man despite facing religious judgment from his mother.

Grant is a wealthy defense attorney and an influential hockey booster in the community. He provides resources to the local team and projects an image of philanthropy. He holds significant social power over both the athletes and their families.

Mike is Grant Edwards's son and a teammate of Levi's on the Superiors. He enjoys the privileges of his family's wealth and status within the insular hockey culture of Sault Ste. Marie.

Travis is Lily’s ex-boyfriend and an enrolled tribal member. Once a hockey player, he is currently struggling with severe meth addiction, causing concern among his peers and posing a continuing disruption to Lily's life.

Ron poses as “Jamie Johnson”'s uncle and takes over Uncle David's teaching job. He is a federal investigator looking into the manufacturing and distribution of meth in the Great Lakes area.

GrandMary is Daunis’s maternal grandmother. She comes from a wealthy, old-money French family in the area. Recently incapacitated by a stroke, she represents the rigid, privileged expectations of Daunis’s white heritage.

Gramma Pearl is Daunis’s paternal Ojibwe grandmother. She shares traditional teachings and wisdom with Daunis, offering a grounding presence that contrasts with the Fontaine side of the family.

Dana is Levi's mother and a Tribal Judge. She grew up poor on Sugar Island and holds deep resentments regarding the Fontaine family's wealth. She is highly protective of her son and heavily involved in tribal politics.

Stormy is Levi's friend and hockey teammate. He comes from a disadvantaged background on Sugar Island and frequently stays with Levi and Dana for stability.

TJ is a tribal police officer and Daunis’s ex-boyfriend. He broke up with her suddenly in the past, leaving residual tension whenever they cross paths in the community.

Coach Bobby is the high school business teacher and an influential figure in the local hockey scene. He mentors the young players and connects them with wealthy boosters.

Robin is Daunis’s former hockey teammate and school friend. She offers Daunis advice about managing grief and college coursework.

Heather is a former high school hockey player who runs in the same circles as the Superiors. She struggles with substance use and has a reputation for disappearing from town.

Granny June is Lily’s sharp-witted grandmother. She shares stories of the past and actively participates in the Elder Center activities on Sugar Island.