David (who later goes by Dee) is a Penobscot man living on the reservation. As a sensitive child, David often faces questions from others regarding his masculinity and his identity. As an older young adult, Dee struggles with substance dependency and feelings of entrapment, often joining his friend Fellis in searching for quick cash or drugs to alleviate their struggles.

Fellis is Dee's close friend and frequent companion on the reservation. He drops out of community college to collect his financial aid refund, spending his time seeking out drugs. He holds cynical views regarding his cultural heritage and frequently resorts to aggression or manipulation to resolve his interpersonal conflicts.

A deeply committed but frequently overwhelmed mother who returns to the Penobscot Reservation after a divorce. She constantly attempts to mediate the volatile dynamics within her household while coping with her own severe health issues, including epileptic seizures. She actively tries to shoulder her family's burdens and provide a steady presence in an unpredictable environment.

David/Dee's older sister. Paige attempts to find independence by taking work at a pawnshop off the reservation, but she repeatedly falls into cycles of addiction and severe depression. She spends time in and out of rehab, fighting to manage her responsibilities while enduring a sequence of profound personal hardships.

A mechanic and local medicine man whose given name is Melvin. He moves in with David's Mother early in David's childhood. While he holds knowledge of Penobscot language and rituals, he suffers from deep emotional volatility and traumatic grief over his past. He frequently responds to tension with unpredictable, sometimes aggressive behavior.

An elder in the family who suffers from a progressively deteriorative memory disorder. She holds strong connections to the family's past, keeping items like blessing tobacco and recounting old family stories. As her dementia advances, she begins confusing the present with the past, struggling to recognize her own relatives.

A college-aged Penobscot man who sells narcotics. He is academically successful and on his way to medical school. His upward mobility and steady demeanor deeply irritate Fellis, leading to physical confrontations.

Fellis's mother. She frequently clashes with her son over his life choices, particularly his failure to submit the necessary paperwork for his college tuition waiver.

A white woman whom Dee is romantically involved with. She attempts to connect with Dee's cultural heritage by asking him to teach her tribal dances, but her efforts emphasize the vast historical and emotional gap between them.

One of David's childhood friends. He spends his time roaming the reservation and playing a violent game called "battle" that routinely leaves him and his friends injured.

A childhood friend of David. He dominates the physical games the boys play, typically beating the others with sticks and rocks until they submit.

A Penobscot man who maintains a traditional sweat lodge on his property. He actively practices tribal traditions, crafting his own drums and singing songs. He offers a rare model of empathetic masculinity to the younger men around him.

The ex-husband of David's mother, living off the reservation. He maintains a distant relationship with his son, primarily interacting through phone calls where they argue about child support and alimony payments.

Paige's child, whose name translates to "thunder" in the Penobscot language. Born highly dependent on medication due to his mother's struggles during pregnancy, his care frequently falls to David and the extended family when Paige runs away.

The deceased younger brother of David's grandmother. He carries a family legacy of transgression for once attempting to steal the household's sacred blessing tobacco, a memory his sister constantly revisits.

A man whose uncle operates the tribal museum. He becomes the target of violence when Fellis attacks him, supposedly to extract information but primarily to settle a personal grudge.

Frick's deceased daughter from his past. Her death in a car accident serves as the unspoken foundation of Frick's emotional trauma and behavioral issues.

Paige's caseworker. She attempts to monitor the living situation and safety of Paige's newborn child, prompting David to hide from her when he is left alone with the baby.

Fellis's young cousin. An inappropriate proposition made toward her by Daryl drives Fellis to seek violent retaliation.

A dealer whom Dee visits outside the reservation. He maintains strict business boundaries, refusing to give Dee any product without cash in hand.