Koskoosh is the elderly, blind former chief of his tribe. Now frail and unable to keep up with the nomadic group, he stays behind with a small supply of firewood in accordance with the severe survival demands of their environment. He maintains a fatalistic attitude about the natural order, believing an individual's primary purpose is to contribute to the group's survival.

Zing-ha is a childhood friend of Koskoosh who grew up to become a skilled hunter. He is a prominent figure in Koskoosh's memories, particularly regarding an incident where they tracked a pack of wolves chasing a moose. His past experiences demonstrate the close proximity of life and death in the far north.

Koskoosh's son is the current chief of the tribe, characterized as a stalwart and mighty hunter. He is a devoted son who ensures his father is at peace, yet he pragmatically accepts the necessity of leaving the older man behind to secure the survival of his people.

Sit-cum-to-ha is Koskoosh's granddaughter, a young woman busy with the demanding duties of life in a brutal climate. Koskoosh occasionally views her as careless and absorbed in her own youth, reflecting the natural impatience of the younger generation toward their elders.

Koo-tee is a young, sickly child in the tribe whose death appears imminent. The tribe's matter-of-fact attitude toward the child's likely passing shows the fatalistic realities of their Arctic environment.