A resilient Indigenous man who was taken from his family at age six to attend the Mission school. As a child, he was lauded by his classmates for his repeated and daring escape attempts, though he carries deep internal trauma from the abuse he suffered. In his adult life, he relies on constant movement, fleeing whenever people get too close, and uses alcohol as a coping mechanism to quiet his painful memories.

An obedient and docile survivor of the Indian School who survived her formative years by cleaning constantly and keeping quiet. Thrust into Vancouver without any practical life skills, she uses sheer determination to pursue her high school equivalency and apply to nursing school. She manages her lingering anxiety through obsessive-compulsive cleaning and counting rituals.

A feisty, rebellious young woman whose traumatic years at the Mission left her with a short temper and an explosive anger toward injustice. She initially struggles to contain her rage, frequently getting into physical altercations. Over time, she channels her anger into activism and a career as a legal advocate for Indigenous people dealing with the justice system.

A Cree survivor from Saskatchewan who was abducted into the school system while visiting family in Vancouver. Small and vulnerable as a boy, he suffered horrific abuse that fuels a lasting, explosive anger in his adult life. He struggles to find a stable path forward after his incarceration, hoping to return to his mother's property and start a horse ranch.

The eldest of the core survivor group, who preceded the others out of the Mission and established a seemingly functional life with an apartment, a job, and a boyfriend. Beneath her capable exterior, she harbors intense self-loathing and relies on dangerous, secret coping mechanisms—including self-harm—to manage her unresolved trauma.

An elderly Indigenous healer who understands both physical medicine and traditional spiritual remedies. Having never been subjected to the residential school system, she remains deeply grounded in her community and culture, providing a vital anchor and safe haven for survivors seeking to reclaim their identities.

A predatory and violent staff member at the Indian School. He targets the smallest and most vulnerable children, inflicting severe physical and sexual abuse that leaves lifelong psychological scars on his victims.

A Catholic priest who enforces strict, abusive discipline at the Indian School. He uses his position of absolute authority to inflict both physical and sexual trauma on the children in his care, representing the institutional cruelty of the system.

A severe, unsympathetic nun and principal authority figure at the Mission school. She uses physical violence to punish the children for minor infractions and shows blatant indifference to their health and well-being.

An inspiring speaker and activist associated with the American Indian Movement (AIM). He helps channel the anger of survivors into meaningful activism, organizing efforts to resist systemic discrimination and support Indigenous rights.

The daughter of Kenny and Lucy. She grows up deeply affected by her father's frequent absences and struggles to understand the traumatic history that shapes her parents' lives and behaviors.

Lucy's older brother and a fellow survivor of the Mission school. He works as a migrant laborer and provides Kenny with crucial information to find his sister in Vancouver.

A frail, sickly childhood friend of Clara at the Indian School. Her tragic decline due to illness and the staff's neglect has a profound, lasting impact on Clara's sense of justice and drives her to seek closure years later.

An Indigenous woman who falls into deep despair and alcoholism after her son is forcibly taken by the government. Though she desperately writes letters to maintain contact, the forced separation creates an irreparable emotional rift between them.

A Cree woman from Saskatchewan whose son is stolen by the authorities. She eventually manages to rescue him and flee to the United States, though their bond is later strained when he is sent to prison as an adult.

Maisie's boyfriend in the city. He cares for her but struggles to understand or cope with her secretive, self-destructive behaviors and explosive trauma.

The racist, contemptuous owner of a dive motel who employs several of the Mission survivors as maids. He exploits their labor and frequently belittles their aspirations.

An experienced Courtworker who acts as an advocate for Indigenous people in trouble with the law. She teaches Clara how to operate tactfully within a highly biased legal system.

George's wife and a fellow activist in the American Indian Movement. She assists in organizing protests, smuggling operations, and supporting Indigenous rights.