Lyman is a young Chippewa man with an unusual knack for business and finance. He begins working at the Joliet Café at age 15 and quickly becomes a partial manager. He idolizes his older brother and relies heavily on their close family bond. His share of savings allows the brothers to impulsively purchase a beautiful red Oldsmobile convertible.

Henry is Lyman's older brother, possessing a strong physique and a distinct nose that Lyman admires as a sign of their Indigenous heritage. He enjoys spontaneous road trips, such as buying the car on a whim and driving all the way to Alaska. Soon after their summer travels, he is drafted into the Marines and deployed to the Vietnam War.

Susy is a young woman the brothers pick up during their summer road trip in the red Oldsmobile. She lives in Chicken, Alaska, and invites the boys to camp in her family's yard for the summer. She possesses a relaxed disposition that matches the brothers' carefree attitude.

Bonita is Lyman and Henry's younger sister who lives on the Chippewa reservation in North Dakota. She spends time with her family and enjoys documenting moments with her camera.

The matriarch of the Lamartine family lives on the Chippewa reservation in North Dakota. She cares deeply for her children and maintains connections to other members of the tribal community. She distrusts outside medical institutions and prefers to handle family matters internally.

Moses Pillager is a respected figure within the Chippewa reservation community. He shares a past connection with the Lamartine family matriarch and holds traditional knowledge outside the mainstream systems.