Thomas is the night watchman for the jewel bearing factory and the tribal chairman of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa. He is named after the muskrat, an animal central to his culture's creation story. He works relentlessly to defeat a proposed congressional bill that would terminate his tribe's federal recognition. The physical and emotional weight of this fight constantly threatens his health.

Patrice is a young woman who assembles jewel bearings at the factory, serving as the sole provider for her impoverished family. She possesses a deep spiritual connection to the natural world. When her older sister stops communicating from the Twin Cities, Patrice risks her job and safety to travel into the city to search for her.

Vera is Patrice's older sister who left the reservation for the Twin Cities looking for work. Her sudden disappearance triggers a frantic search by her family. Her experiences in the city reveal the extreme vulnerabilities and violence faced by Indigenous women separated from their communities.

Wood Mountain is a young, athletic boxer living on the reservation. He trains under the high school math teacher to fight in a long-standing rivalry against a local farmer's son. He harbors deep affection for Patrice and takes an active role in caring for her missing sister's baby.

Zhaanat is Patrice's mother. She was hidden from government boarding schools as a child, allowing her to retain her fluency in the Chippewa language and traditional ceremonies. She provides a vital spiritual anchor for her children, using her knowledge of plants and dreams to guide them.

Watkins is a United States senator from Utah. Motivated by a mix of political ideology and religious doctrine, he aggressively pushes House Concurrent Resolution 108. He seeks to force Indigenous assimilation by terminating federal treaties and stripping tribes of their resources.

Barnes is a white math teacher working at the reservation high school. He coaches the local boys in boxing and holds a strong, somewhat idealized crush on Patrice. He initially views the Indigenous community through commercial stereotypes but slowly learns about the realities of their political struggle.

Millie is an academic researcher who grew up in the city with her mother, away from the reservation. She conducts an economic survey of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, gathering critical data that Thomas hopes will prove the necessity of continued federal support.

Roderick is a spirit who frequently visits Thomas during his night shifts. In life, he was Thomas's classmate at a government boarding school, where he died of tuberculosis after being locked in a cellar. He lingers near his old friends, representing the unhealed wounds of their childhood.

Biboon is Thomas's elderly father. He survived the severe restrictions and starvations of the reservation's early days. He converses fluently in Chippewa and provides Thomas with historical perspective on the broken treaties of the past.

Rose is Thomas's practical wife. She manages the demands of their family and farm while her husband works nights and fights political battles. She acts as a grounding force, urging Thomas to rest and take care of his failing health.

Pogo is Patrice's father. He suffers from severe alcoholism and frequently disappears for long stretches. His addiction drains the family's resources and forces his daughter into the role of primary breadwinner.

Pokey is Patrice's younger brother and a high school student. He trains in boxing under Lloyd Barnes. He looks up to his sister for securing a steady factory job and tries to help maintain their impoverished home.

Juggie is Wood Mountain's mother and a cook at the local school. She is a resilient, active community member who helps type up tribal documents and defends her property from encroaching white farmers.

LaBatte works as a janitor at the factory. He is highly superstitious and carries deep guilt from his childhood, knowing that a classmate died taking a punishment meant for him at the boarding school.

Jack owns a Paul Bunyan-themed bar in the city. He exploits vulnerable women, coercing Patrice into performing in an underwater tank show while withholding information about her missing sister.

Valentine is Patrice's coworker. She is sometimes jealous and competitive regarding male attention, but she also demonstrates loyalty by secretly donating her sick days so Patrice can travel to the city.

Louis is Millie's father and a dedicated member of the tribal committee. He actively drives people to meetings and coordinates resistance against the government's termination plans.

Gwiiwizens is Vera's infant son. Patrice gives him this traditional nickname, meaning "Little Boy," to hide him from bad spirits. He becomes a central focus for Wood Mountain and Zhaanat, representing the community's future.