A musically gifted former nun who survives a tragic kidnapping and a devastating flood that sweeps away her former life. After discovering a drowned priest, she assumes his identity as Father Damien Modeste and travels to the Little No Horse reservation. Stationed there for decades, she maintains this complex disguise while ministering to the Ojibwe community. She blends Catholic doctrines with Indigenous traditions to better serve the reservation, turning her performance into a profound personal calling.

A devout nun of Ojibwe and French heritage stationed at the convent. She embodies a punitive form of faith and practices extreme asceticism, including severe fasting and physical penance. Her rigid interpretations of spirituality and harsh disciplinary methods create significant tension within the community, making her a highly polarizing figure.

A sly Ojibwe elder who serves as a vital mentor and trickster figure on the reservation. He uses traditional storytelling to preserve his culture and push back against the assimilation efforts of Catholic missionaries. He becomes a crucial friend to the local priest, offering practical survival wisdom and a deeply grounded perspective on the spirit world.

The fiercely independent daughter of Fleur Pillager and Nanapush. Sent away to a government boarding school as a child, she survives harsh institutional conditions and grows into a sexually autonomous, vibrant woman. She refuses to be tied down by conventional expectations and harbors a lasting resentment toward her mother for abandoning her.

A formidable Ojibwe woman with a profound connection to her ancestral lands and traditional practices. After a wealthy lumber baron steals her property through legal exploitation, she dedicates herself to a complex quest for revenge. Her singular focus on this retribution drastically affects her relationship with her daughter.

A physically strong, quiet Ojibwe woman who functions as a loyal housekeeper and silent confidante. Deeply traumatized by the sudden death of her parents, she initially copes through obsessive physical labor before finding purpose at the convent. She possesses an intuitive, nonverbal understanding of the people around her and acts as a fierce protector of the local priest.

A kind and pragmatic German farmer who offers a safe haven and unconditional affection. He shares an idyllic, unconventional romance centered on everyday comforts and musical appreciation. His grounded, earthly life provides a temporary sanctuary before a violent encounter changes everything.

A young assistant priest assigned to share cramped quarters at the reservation. As he works closely alongside his superior, he develops a profound connection that eventually challenges their respective vows. His presence introduces a severe test of spiritual duty versus personal desire.

A shrewd and respected Ojibwe man who maintains a traditional household with multiple wives. He struggles to preserve his family's cultural structure in the face of mounting pressures from Catholic missionaries and federal assimilation policies. He is highly observant and deeply values harmony within his complex family.

A pragmatic Vatican investigator tasked with documenting supposed miracles for a canonization inquiry. Initially rigid and institutional in his approach, his perspective shifts as he records local historical accounts and experiences unexpected personal feelings that challenge his bureaucratic mindset.

One of Kashpaw's wives, known for her sharp tongue and assertive nature. She later marries Nanapush, maintaining a dynamic relationship characterized by both deep affection and fierce stubbornness during challenging winters.

A bold huntress and one of Kashpaw's traditional wives. She is responsible for providing practical sustenance for the family and acts as a stabilizing force within the household before external pressures force them apart.

A psychologically fragile woman within the Kashpaw family unit. She struggles significantly with her mental health as her household undergoes forced changes due to external religious pressures, deeply affecting her ability to parent.

The gentle, pregnant wife of Kashpaw. She embodies maternal duty and quiet grace within their traditional Ojibwe household before missionary pressures force the family to fracture.

The son of Kashpaw who adapts to the encroaching colonial systems. He later uses his access to agency records to alter land documents in favor of his relatives, navigating the complex intersection of tribal loyalty and federal bureaucracy.

A wealthy, predatory white lumber baron who exploits federal assimilation policies to steal valuable timber and ancestral lands from the Ojibwe people. His greed sets off a long chain of targeted retaliation.

The brother of Bernadette who resides near the reservation. His deeply troubling actions ignite a wave of community tension and lead to violent, long-lasting conflicts between local families.

The cousin of Quill who attempts to manage family affairs during times of crisis. She holds significant knowledge about the darker elements of her household and frequently clashes with the Pillager and Kashpaw families during public disputes.

A young woman living at the convent who suffers severe abuse at the hands of her disciplinarian. She eventually leaves the convent to work as a bootlegger and later provides crucial testimony during the Vatican investigation to correct the historical record.

The pale, largely silent son of Fleur Pillager and John James Mauser. Known also as 'the Mist,' he is highly purposeful in his movements and forms an intense, unconventional attachment to the physically strong Mary Kashpaw.

A notorious bank robber known as 'the Actor' for his highly convincing disguises. His violent actions drastically alter Agnes's life trajectory during a chaotic hostage situation.

The formidable Mother Superior of the Little No Horse convent. She relies heavily on Father Damien to minister to the desperately ill nuns during harsh winters and early epidemics.

A nun at the mission who organizes practical tasks. She specifically coordinates wood hauling, bringing different members of the community into brief contact.

A nun working at the convent during the later decades of Father Damien's tenure. She assists visiting individuals in need of basic charity.

A young man involved in the factional violence on the reservation. He participates in a dangerous ambush that ends tragically in Matchimanito Lake.

An older girl at the government boarding school who provides crucial aid to younger, vulnerable students facing abuse from their peers.

A nun at Little No Horse in 1997 who assists with the administrative integration of modern communications hardware.

A local woman who possesses deep knowledge of the community's hidden histories. She discreetly passes vital, life-changing information to a younger generation.