A US Army officer with a deep curiosity about Indigenous cultures; he is torn between his duty and his feelings for May Dodd.

The Cheyenne Sweet Medicine Chief who proposes the social experiment to ensure his people's survival through intermarriage with white women.

An escaped slave with aspirations to be a hunter and warrior, showcasing her radical independence and refusal to conform to societal expectations.

An English ornithologist whose artistic talents are perceived as powerful medicine by the Cheyenne, offering a unique perspective on scientific and gender norms.

May's loyal friend from the asylum, who undergoes significant personal growth while adapting to life within the Cheyenne community.

Margaret and Susan, identical twins from Chicago's Irish underclass, who use their cunning to thrive and treat the program as an adventure.

A Southern woman of ruined gentry who grapples with her racist beliefs while forming a transformative friendship with Phemie.

The antagonist, a half-Cheyenne, half-white man who exploits cultural knowledge for personal gain and poses a persistent threat to May.

An evangelical woman sent to convert the Cheyenne, embodying religious superiority and hypocrisy.

A nonverbal young woman from the mental healthcare facility who finds her voice and love in the Cheyenne community.

A flawed Episcopal missionary whose cowardice and moral failings contrast with the genuine faith of Brother Anthony.

A rough-spoken woman disguised as a man, fluent in Cheyenne, acting as a crucial link between the white women and the Cheyenne community.