Luke is a 12-year-old Iñupiaq boy who feels intensely responsible for his younger brothers, Bunna and Isaac. He adopts an English name to avoid mispronunciation by white teachers at Sacred Heart School, internalizing the suppression of his culture. Resilient and stoic, he struggles to protect his family, experiences intense premonitions, and works to preserve his identity in a harsh, abusive boarding school environment.

Bunna is Luke's 10-year-old brother, who is outgoing and eager to find a place among the other students at Sacred Heart. He quickly forms connections and engages in the social dynamics of the school, masking his underlying homesickness. His lively personality allows him to cross social boundaries, eventually forming a close bond with Chickie.

Chickie is a white girl raised in an Eskimo community in Kotzebue by her father, Swede. Her fair skin and blue eyes make her an outlier at the boarding school, but her deep connection to Native American culture allows her to become a strong ally to the Indigenous students. She observes the strict racial divisions at the school and provides a compassionate perspective for her peers.

Sonny is a student leader at Sacred Heart who commands the "Indian Country" faction of the cafeteria. Raised to be a future leader of his tribe, he projects bravado and frequently clashes with the rival Eskimo group led by Amiq. Beneath his tough exterior, he possesses a strong sense of compassion and a belief in the necessity of solidarity among all Native American students.

Amiq is the confident leader of the Eskimo students at Sacred Heart. He carries deep personal trauma, having lost his mother to a house fire and dealing with an unreliable father, which manifests in his fierce independence. Despite enduring severe abuse from the administration, he remains resilient, deeply protective of his peers, and willing to practice civil disobedience.

Father Mullen is the head priest at Sacred Heart School and a former boxer who rules the student body through fear and physical violence. He harbors deep prejudice against the Native American students and actively attempts to erase their culture and language. His tyrannical approach creates an oppressive environment that forces the students to unite in defiance against him.

Isaac is Luke and Bunna's six-year-old brother. Because the school authorities deem him too young for Sacred Heart, they force him into a white foster home, separating him completely from his family and culture. His absence casts a long shadow over his older brothers, driving their motivations and emotional struggles.

Junior is a thoughtful, non-violent student at Sacred Heart who aspires to be a writer. Inspired by his Uncle Joe's work at a Native American newspaper, Junior channels his quiet observation into writing stories that challenge the administration. He focuses on connecting the disparate tribes and exposing systemic injustices.

Donna is a Yupik student who keeps her emotional distance from others after losing her parents and the nun who raised her. She is immaculately groomed and seeks solace in the structure of the school and the garden. Slowly, she allows herself to become vulnerable, especially as she develops a romantic connection with Amiq.

Father Flanagan is a young priest at Sacred Heart who enforces the school's rules but uses a slightly less violent approach than Father Mullen. He attempts to integrate the boys into the school's survival by assigning them hunting duties, representing the institutional authority of the church and boarding school system.

Sister Mary Kate is a nun at Sacred Heart who genuinely believes she is helping the Native American children by saving them from ignorance and poverty. Though entrenched in a white savior complex that blinds her to the students' trauma, she occasionally displays individual acts of kindness.

Uncle Joe is Luke and Junior's uncle and a prominent figure in the Native American community who advocates for civil rights. He writes for a Native American newspaper and actively protests for justice, serving as an important role model for the younger generation.

Michael O’Shay is a tall white student at Sacred Heart whose father is an attorney. Despite his privileged background relative to the Indigenous students, he participates in the school's daily life and eventually faces a choice about whether to show solidarity with his peers.

Sister Sarah is a quiet, serious nun at Sacred Heart. She manages the school's garden and provides a sense of peace and structure for students like Donna who seek refuge from the school's harsher elements.

Rose is an Athabascan student at Sacred Heart and one of Chickie's roommates. She bonds quickly with Evelyn over their shared tribal heritage and participates in the social life of the dormitory, reading magazines and talking about home.

Evelyn is an Athabascan student who shares a room with Chickie, Donna, and Rose. She forms a fast friendship with Rose based on their shared cultural background and participates in the dormitory's social activities.

Swede is Chickie's white father who raised her in the Eskimo community of Kotzebue. He runs a store and provides Chickie with a loving home, though he sometimes struggles to explain the harsh realities of the world to her.

Aaka Mae is an elder in the Kotzebue community whom Chickie views as a grandmother. Her forced removal to a home in Fairbanks deeply upsets Chickie and represents the ongoing displacement of Native American elders.

Sister Ann is a nun from the Holy Cross Mission who cared for Donna from infancy until being called to another job when Donna was five. Her sudden departure left a lasting impact on Donna's ability to trust others.