Omishto is a 16-year-old member of the Taiga tribe living in the Florida Everglades. Her name means "One Who Watches," reflecting her highly observant nature and deep connection to the natural environment. She exists between the modern, assimilated lifestyle of her mother and the traditional tribal ways taught by her older relative, Ama Eaton. To avoid her predatory stepfather, she often sleeps outside in her boat on the water.

Ama is a traditional Taiga woman who lives in a dilapidated, termite-infested house halfway between the modern town and the ancestral Kili Swamp. Acting as Omishto's primary mentor, she serves as a gatekeeper between contemporary society and ancient tribal heritage. She possesses a profound respect for the natural world, tracking local wildlife and preserving the oral history of her people.

Omishto's mother is an assimilated Indigenous woman who lives in town and belongs to a fundamentalist Christian church. She actively rejects her Taiga heritage in an attempt to pass for white. She lives in deep denial regarding her current husband's abusive behavior, prioritizing her constructed modern life over her daughters' safety and her traditional roots.

Herman is Omishto's white stepfather. He is a harsh, predatory man whose lecherous presence drives Omishto out of her own home to seek refuge in the dangerous swamp. He maintains social ties with the local white authorities, giving him a systemic advantage in town that makes him difficult to confront.

Donna is Omishto's sister. Unlike Omishto, Donna embraces her English name and has fully assimilated into Americanized teenage culture. She drives her boyfriend's car and enjoys popularity at school, acting as a practical voice of Western compromise within the family.

The Florida panther is a highly endangered mountain cat and the sacred symbol of the Taiga tribe's Panther Clan. It holds a powerful, mystical presence in the Everglades, representing the survival and spiritual heart of the Indigenous population even as its habitat shrinks due to human industry.

Janie Soto is a respected elder of the Taiga tribe and the head of the Panther Clan. She resides in the traditional wilds of Kili Swamp, maintaining the old laws and ways of the Taiga people away from Western society.

Annie Hide is a traditional Taiga elder and healer who lives in Kili Swamp. She firmly believes in the oral traditions passed down since creation and serves as a pillar of spiritual and cultural continuity for the tribe.

Joseph Post is an elder of the Turtle Clan who honors the magic and mystery of human life. He holds deep knowledge of cyclical history and the traditional laws of the Kili Swamp community.

Jewel is Omishto's white best friend in town. She takes ballet classes and has ambitions for college, representing the Western standards of progress and culture that Omishto increasingly feels disconnected from.

Abraham Swallow is a deceased town resident whose sudden death remains a point of cultural division. While the local police ruled his death a natural heart attack, tribal rumors insist he was cursed by the Kili Swamp elders as punishment for abusing his wife.