Morgan is a 13-year-old Cree girl who has lived in the foster care system since she was three years old. Having been placed in seven different foster homes, she carries a deep sense of anger and social isolation. She struggles with her cultural identity and often pushes people away to protect herself from being hurt again. Her discovery of a secret room in the attic leads her to a wintery alternate world called Askí.

Eli is a quiet, 12-year-old Cree boy who recently entered the foster care system. He loves to draw and carries an oversized drawing pad given to him by his father everywhere he goes. Deeply connected to his cultural roots and fluent in Swampy Cree, Eli finds solace in his art and feels a strong pull toward the wintery world he sketches.

Ochek is a carnivorous talking animal, a fisher, who serves as the sole hunter and provider for the starving village of Misewa. With a physical appearance resembling a mix between a red panda and a beaver, he carries the heavy burden of keeping his fellow villagers alive during the eternal White Time. He is knowledgeable, deeply respectful of the environment, and fiercely protective of his community.

Mason is a human man who discovered a portal into Askí and initially lived in peace with the animal villagers. Consumed by greed, he began hoarding the natural resources and eventually stole the summer birds, plunging the region into an eternal winter. He isolates himself in the Green Time, violently guarding the warmth for himself.

Arik is a fast, clever talking squirrel who left the village of Misewa when the eternal winter made food scarce and smaller animals vulnerable. Operating on a strong survival instinct, she relies on herself to stay alive. She possesses critical knowledge about the location of the Green Time, which makes her an essential guide for the group.

Mahihkan is a fearsome talking wolf who abandoned his fellow animals to live comfortably in the stolen Green Time. He acts as a guard for the human who hoards the summer, using intimidation and violence to keep travelers away from the warmth. Despite his threatening demeanor, he struggles with the choices he has made to survive.

Katie is Morgan and Eli's well-intentioned foster mother. She tries hard to make the children feel welcome and actively attempts to connect them with their Indigenous heritage, though her efforts are sometimes awkward. She is patient, open to learning, and genuinely wants to provide a stable, loving environment.

James is Morgan and Eli's foster father. Like his wife Katie, he wants to create a supportive home for the children but struggles to bridge the emotional distance Morgan maintains. He tries to bring lightness and routine into their lives through small gestures, even when they are met with resistance.

Emily is a friendly, outgoing girl in Morgan's language arts and art classes. She persistently tries to break through Morgan's icy exterior, inviting her to sit together at lunch and helping her acquire art supplies for Eli.

Muskwa is a talking bear and the Chief of the Council in Misewa. He carries the heavy responsibility of leading his village through the devastating White Time, making difficult decisions to prioritize the long-term survival of his starving people.

Mrs. Edwards is Morgan's language arts teacher. She recognizes Morgan's natural writing talent but challenges her to put more heart into her work, pushing her to achieve her full potential rather than accepting the minimum effort.

Morgan's biological mother appears primarily in Morgan's recurring dreams. In these memories, she speaks Cree to her daughter, repeating the word Kiskisitotaso. This memory represents Morgan's severed but enduring connection to her heritage.

Tahtakiw is a talking crane from the village of Misewa who left with Mason when he stole the summer birds. He now resides in the Green Time.

Miskinahk is a talking turtle and a member of the Council in Misewa. He listens to Ochek's petition to retrieve the summer birds from the human who stole them.

Oho is a talking owl and a member of the Council in Misewa, helping to govern the starving village during the eternal winter.