Malian is an eighth-grade girl living in Boston with her Wabanaki parents who finds herself stranded on the Penacook reservation during the COVID-19 lockdown. Intelligent and deeply connected to her heritage, she serves as a bridge between the traditional ways of her community and modern city life. She takes her responsibility to protect her elders seriously, using the isolation to deepen her understanding of her family's history.

Malsum is a large rez dog who chooses Malian as his companion. He bears distinctive white spots above his eyes, marking him as a "four-eyed dog" with a spiritual aura. Fiercely protective and remarkably intuitive, Malsum guards Malian's grandparents from outsiders who might expose them to illness or threaten their sovereignty.

Martha Frances is a Wabanaki elder and retired primary school teacher. She is a champion beader who shares traditional stories with her granddaughter. Having survived traumatic experiences in Catholic boarding schools, she holds a justifiable mistrust of government interventions but maintains her cultural resilience by passing on traditions like making frybread.

Grampa Roy is a Wabanaki elder and master carpenter. He survived significant physical abuse at Catholic boarding schools but maintains a warm, culturally grounded outlook on life. He passes down Wabanaki culture to Malian through creation stories and farming traditions.

Ms. Mendelson is Malian's compassionate teacher in Boston. As a Jewish woman whose grandmother survived the Holocaust, she connects with the historical traumas faced by her students' ancestors. She encourages her class to share their family stories to build community and actively confronts her own unconscious biases.

Thomas is Malian's father, a Wabanaki man who works at a law firm in Boston. He is deeply proud of his heritage and grateful to his daughter for looking after his aging parents. He is considered a "miracle baby" because he was born after an attempted forced sterilization procedure on his mother.

Darrell is one of Malian's childhood friends from the reservation, part of a trio calling themselves the "Three Muskrateers." Bored during the pandemic lockdown, he disobeys restrictions and sneaks out, only to be chased up a tree by a protective rez dog.

Mark is one of the twins in the "Three Muskrateers" friend group. He is an Indigenous boy living on the Penacook reservation who occasionally teases Malian about her city life.

Able is Mark's twin brother and the third member of the friend group. Like his friends, he struggles with the boredom of the COVID-19 lockdown and receives a stern reminder from Malian about protecting their elders.

Sergeant Ed is a tribal policeman who visits the family to follow up on a complaint from a state health worker. He respects the reservation's autonomy and shows deference to Malsum, recognizing the dog's special nature.

Al is the local mail delivery person on the reservation. Recognizing the threat his cough poses to Malian's vulnerable grandparents during the pandemic, he gratefully accepts Malian's suggestion to keep his distance.

Uncle Philip is Malian's uncle who follows traditional Wabanaki practices. He ensures spiritual respect is paid to the animals he hunts by offering tobacco gifts.

Arthur Bowman is Malian's great-great-grandfather. He fought with the US Army in France during World War I and was watched over by a devoted rez dog.

Wolf was a historical rez dog who closely resembles Malsum. According to family legend, he was devoted to Arthur Bowman, magically appearing to protect him during World War I.