Lewis is a 36-year-old Blackfoot man working as a postal employee in Great Falls. He left the reservation after a fateful elk hunt a decade ago and married a white woman named Peta. He feels immense guilt over his past actions and acts disconnected from his ancestral heritage. His anxiety grows into severe paranoia about his safety and his marriage as strange occurrences begin around the anniversary of the hunt.

Gabriel is a Blackfoot man with a poor reputation on the reservation due to his struggles with alcohol and public outbursts. He maintains a deep pride in his daughter Denorah's basketball talent, viewing her athletic success as his own saving grace. He often acts impulsively, such as taking his father's antique rifle to trade for a sweat lodge setup.

Cassidy is a Blackfoot man trying to turn his life around. After years of aimlessness, he secures steady employment and begins building a homestead with his girlfriend. He attempts to respect Blackfoot traditions by hosting a sweat lodge, though he relies on makeshift materials like dog blankets and a cassette tape of tribal drums.

Denorah is a determined middle school student and a highly talented basketball player on the Blackfoot reservation. She dedicates her free time to practicing free throws on a concrete court, viewing the sport as her primary path to a successful college future. She feels immense pressure from the community to succeed and maintains a strained distance from her father.

Elk Head Woman is a vengeful spirit seeking retribution for the slaughter of her herd during the Thanksgiving Classic hunt a decade earlier. She possesses the ability to manifest in physical form and manipulate the fears of those she targets. She operates on a strict internal logic of karmic balance and relentlessly pursues the hunters.

Ricky is a Blackfoot man working on an oil crew in North Dakota, where he constantly feels the tension of racial prejudice from his white coworkers. He harbors guilt over participating in the illegal elk hunt and regrets taking his family's rifles away from the reservation.

Peta is Lewis's wife, living with him in Great Falls. She works hard to support their household, often picking up extra shifts, and maintains a strict vegetarian diet. She cares deeply for their dog Harley and attempts to support Lewis as he begins acting strangely around the anniversary of his hunting trip.

Shaney is a Crow woman training at the postal service under Lewis. She shares his interest in fantasy novels and often stops by his house to play basketball or borrow books. Her shared Indigenous background and playful demeanor cause Lewis severe anxiety regarding his fidelity and sanity.

Victor is a tribal police officer attempting to steer his rebellious son away from a life of crime. He arranges for his son to attend a traditional sweat lodge with Gabriel and Cassidy, hoping the experience will provide a sobering look at the consequences of making poor choices.

Nathan is a troubled teenager who runs away from home following the death of his friend Tre. He holds a cynical view of the older men in his community and initially rejects the spiritual significance of the sweat lodge. He identifies strongly with the Blackfoot legend of Blood-Clot Boy.

Denny is the local game warden who caught Lewis and his friends poaching on land reserved for elders a decade ago. He enforces the hunting ban that strips the men of their privileges. He later becomes Denorah's supportive stepfather, encouraging her academic pursuits.

Jolene is a Crow woman who works night shifts and provides a stabilizing influence in Cassidy's life. Her relationship with Cassidy helps him secure employment and build a future. She remains largely unaware of the deep-seated tensions between Cassidy and his old hunting friends.

Harley is Lewis and Peta's energetic dog. He frequently attempts to jump the high fence surrounding their yard in Great Falls, an act that deeply concerns his owners and their neighbors.

Neesh is a tribal elder and counselor who runs recovery groups on the reservation. He imparts traditional wisdom to the younger generation, explaining concepts like counting coup to men who struggle to understand their heritage.

Cheeto is Ricky's younger brother. His tragic death from an overdose causes Ricky to leave the Blackfoot reservation and seek work in the North Dakota oil fields.

Trina is Gabriel's ex-partner and Denorah's mother. She maintains strict boundaries regarding Gabriel's involvement in their daughter's life due to his history of alcoholism and public disturbances.

Trace is Denorah's older stepsister. Her exceptional performance in regional basketball tournaments earned her a full college scholarship, setting a high athletic standard for Denorah to follow.

Silas is one of Lewis's coworkers at the postal service. He visits Lewis's home and steps in to help when the situation with Lewis's dog turns unexpectedly dangerous.

Tre is a local teenager and close friend of Nathan Yellow Tail. His recent passing deeply affects Nathan, leading the teenager to run away from home.