Frenchie is a 16-year-old Métis boy on the run in a post-apocalyptic Canada where Indigenous people are hunted so their bone marrow can be harvested for dreams. He has long, dark hair with burnt ombre edges, which he braids daily to maintain a physical connection to his cultural heritage. After being separated from his blood relatives, he struggles to survive alone in the wilderness until he is rescued by a surrogate family of fellow Native travelers.

Miigwans, an Anishinaabe man, is the experienced leader of a nomadic group of Indigenous people fleeing the Recruiters. He carries the heavy responsibility of teaching the younger generation survival skills and the historical "Story" of their people and the devastated world. He relies heavily on his cultural heritage to guide his surrogate family safely through the dangerous environment.

Minerva is an elderly Indigenous woman who serves as the traveling group's Elder. She is tiny and round, often wearing her gray hair in two braids under a flowered kerchief. She rarely speaks in full sentences, preferring to communicate through bursts of laughter, singing, and collecting small objects, as she holds tightly to the traditions and language of her ancestors.

Rose is a young, half-Indigenous woman who joins the group after surviving the loss of her family. She has round cheeks, loose curls, and a throaty laugh, immediately catching Frenchie's eye. Unlike the others who focus primarily on running and hiding, she possesses a rebellious streak and firmly believes they should actively fight against the Recruiters.

Travis and Lincoln are two Indigenous men surviving in the wilderness who display a suspicious lack of caution regarding the government authorities. They invite Miigwans's group to share food, but their reckless behavior, open fires, and dismissive attitudes toward Native resistance raise immediate red flags for the travelers.

Wab is a tall, quiet young woman who takes on significant responsibilities in the camp. She has a prominent scar running from her right cheekbone to her forehead, which makes her a source of quiet speculation among the younger children. She harbors painful memories from her life on the streets before joining the group, making her extremely cautious of strangers.

RiRi is a very young, sweet, and naive Métis girl who relies heavily on the older members of the group for protection. Due to her young age, she is purposefully shielded from hearing the full historical "Story" of the world's devastation. She views the teenagers in the camp as older siblings and actively seeks their comfort and attention.

Jean is Frenchie's father, who left his family early in the crisis to establish a safe route away from the government schools. He is remembered as a determined man who held onto the hope that someone in the world would recognize the horrific injustice of the marrow harvesting system and put a stop to it.

Slopper is a nine-year-old boy who arrived in the group after his father suffered a severe mental breakdown. He is perpetually hungry and struggles to fully grasp the complex, dangerous reality of their post-apocalyptic world. His severe psychological reaction to hearing the historical "Story" too early serves as a cautionary tale for the group.

Tree and Zheegwon are twelve-year-old twins with green eyes, wide shoulders, and heavily scarred bodies. They share a remarkably strong bond and frequently swap a single baseball cap between them from day to day. They rely completely on the group for safety after surviving severe abuse by townspeople earlier in their lives.

At seventeen, Chi-Boy is the oldest youth in the group. He is incredibly thin and almost entirely mute, communicating mostly through his actions rather than words. He serves as the camp's fierce scout, consistently following Miigwans's orders without question and keeping a highly watchful eye over their surroundings.

Derrick is a young Indigenous man living securely within a larger camp. He is skilled in traditional practices, including drumming and singing, and frequently seeks opportunities to prove his capabilities. He displays a competitive streak, especially when interacting with newcomers his own age.

Mitch is Frenchie's older brother who travels with him after they are separated from their parents. He assumes the role of protector, prioritizing Frenchie's survival above his own when government Truancy Officers track them down in an abandoned neighborhood.

Isaac is Miigwans's husband, remembered fondly for his deep fluency in Indigenous languages and his optimistic disbelief in the government's cruelty. During the early days of the marrow harvesting crisis, he insists on offering hospitality to strangers, a generous decision that has lasting consequences for his family.