Originally named Champion, he is the oldest of the two Okimasis boys at the heart of the story. A gifted musical prodigy, he is sent away to the Birch Lake Indian Residential School where his Cree name and language are strictly forbidden. He attempts to assimilate into white Canadian society by mastering Western classical music on the piano, struggling with deep internal conflicts regarding his Indigenous heritage.

Gabriel is a beautiful, rebellious Cree youth whose natural inclination toward physical movement eventually leads him to study ballet. Sent to Birch Lake a few years after his brother, he suffers horrific abuse that permanently tangles his understanding of sexuality, violence, and religion. He is fiercely unapologetic about his identity and openly gay, often clashing with his brother's more conservative, repressed outlook.

A proud Cree caribou hunter from the Eemanapiteepitat reservation. He is a dynamic provider and a loving, joyful father who inspires his children with his exuberant language and connection to the land. Despite his rich cultural heritage, he maintains a blind, devout faith in the Catholic Church, which causes him to unwittingly place his children in harm's way.

Abraham's strong-willed, beautiful wife and a skilled quilt-maker. Having lost multiple children in infancy, she is a fiercely protective matriarch to her surviving sons and daughters. She questions the decisions of the priests more readily than her husband, though she remains deeply tied to Catholic rituals and worries for her children's souls.

The French-Canadian principal of the Birch Lake Indian Residential School. He hides his sadism and predatory nature behind a veneer of Christian piety. He actively denigrates Indigenous culture, teaching the children that their heritage is synonymous with sin, while using his absolute authority to prey on the young boys in his care.

A proud Ojibway teenager who is unafraid to speak out against the whitewashed history taught in her high school. She pursues a career as an actress and refuses to hide her Indigenous identity, even when mocked by white classmates. She acts as a vital catalyst for the Okimasis brothers, challenging Jeremiah's internalized shame.

Introduced as the beautiful pageant winner who presents Abraham with his championship trophy and a kiss. Strongly associated with the Trickster spirit Weesageechak, she appears as a protective, magical, and occasionally mocking presence throughout the brothers' lives, serving as a spiritual guide who challenges Christian dogma.

The rigid local priest in Eemanapiteepitat. He dictates many aspects of the reservation's life, demanding absolute obedience to Catholic doctrine. He changes Gabriel's Cree name at baptism and enforces the mandate that the Okimasis children leave their family to attend the residential school.

Amanda's spirited Ojibway grandmother and a traditional medicine woman. She possesses deep historical knowledge of Indigenous struggles and actively preserves her culture's rituals. She offers spiritual clarity and truth to the younger generation.

An older, famous white choreographer who takes both a professional and personal interest in Gabriel. His lavish apartment and lifestyle introduce Gabriel to the upper echelons of the arts scene, though the power dynamics of their relationship create friction.

An attractive singer who catches Gabriel's eye. He offers Gabriel a genuine, joyful connection characterized by singing and dancing together in the park, contrasting with the more transactional dynamics of Gabriel's past.

A pasty-faced priest at the residential school who handles harsh physical discipline. He enforces the cultural erasure of the children by shaving their heads and routinely whipping students for minor infractions like singing in Cree.

A historical shaman from the Mistik Lake area. Though local priests branded her a witch to frighten the community and cement Christian dominance, she was actually the last medicine woman who opposed the forced conversion of her starving people.

The oldest surviving brother in the Okimasis family. Unlike Jeremiah and Gabriel, he remains in Eemanapiteepitat as his younger brothers move to the city.

The oldest daughter in the Okimasis family, part of the large, bustling household in Eemanapiteepitat before the younger boys are sent away to school.

The eldest surviving daughter present during the early scenes of the Okimasis clan, described as wise beyond her years during her childhood. She actively helps her parents manage the harsh winter environment.

One of the older sisters in the Okimasis family. She attends the Birch Lake residential school, where strict segregation policies prevent her from interacting with her brothers.

Another older sister in the family. Like her brothers, she suffers the erasure of her Indigenous identity at Birch Lake, where the nuns abruptly change her name to Jane.

Mariesis's eccentric cousin and Gabriel's godmother. She is deeply integrated into the community and openly protests Father Bouchard's decision to change her godson's Cree name.

Abraham's sister who was excommunicated by Father Bouchard for leaving her abusive husband. The church's decree causes her to be temporarily ostracized by her devout brother.

Amanda's father, a widower who lives in Ojibway country. He encourages Jeremiah to play the piano for his guests, though his friends prefer more traditional music.

Jeremiah's strict but dedicated piano teacher in the city. She recognizes his extraordinary talent and demands hours of rigorous practice to hone his skills for classical competitions.