Annie is a young Cree woman from the northern Ontario town of Moosonee. Raised with traditional hunting and trapping skills taught by her grandfather and uncle, she prefers the wilderness over city life. She struggles with feelings of jealousy toward her missing sister but works tirelessly to find her, taking her from the deep bush to major cities.

Will is a former bush pilot and traditional hunter living in Moosonee. He suffers from alcoholism and trauma following multiple plane crashes and the loss of his family. Deeply connected to his Cree roots, he relies heavily on his community ties to survive escalating threats from local criminals.

Marius is a violent bootlegger from a family with a long-standing grudge against the Birds. He aggressively pursues Will under the belief that the older man is a police informant. He uses intimidation to maintain control over the local drug trade in Moosonee.

Gordon is a young Indigenous man who cannot speak and communicates entirely through writing. Known in the city as Painted Tongue, he acts as a steadfast protector to Annie during her search. He possesses strong survival instincts and proves to be a highly capable trapper.

Suzanne is Annie's charismatic sister who left Moosonee to pursue a modeling career down south. Her sudden disappearance drives much of the narrative, as she leaves behind a trail of glamorous but dangerous connections in Toronto, Montreal, and New York.

Lisette is Will's sister and the mother of Annie and Suzanne. She worries deeply about her daughters and brother, relying on modern comforts like Oprah's book club for inspiration. She actively shares information with the police to investigate her daughter's disappearance.

Dorothy is a woman from Will's grade school days who reconnects with him. Having experienced her own share of loss and relationship troubles, she bonds with Will over their shared grief. She provides a stabilizing, caring presence in his life.

Joe is one of Will's closest friends in Moosonee. He frequently spends time drinking and hunting with Will, offering steady companionship. He provides practical help when Will faces trouble from the Netmaker family.

Gregor is a loyal friend to Will. Alongside Joe, he frequently visits Will's home to share drinks and offer support. He demonstrates the strong community ties that sustain the Bird family in Moosonee.

Gus is Marius's younger brother and Suzanne's boyfriend. His involvement with a dangerous motorcycle crowd and subsequent disappearance with Suzanne escalate the tension between the Bird and Netmaker families.

Antoine is Will's older half-brother who lives a deeply traditional life in the wilderness. He speaks primarily Cree and visits Will when he senses his brother is in trouble, offering quiet but fierce protection.

Eva is Annie's friend who works as a nurse at the hospital. She accompanies Annie on her initial trip south to Toronto after winning money at bingo and frequently updates the family on Will's medical condition.

Violet is a model and one of Suzanne's friends in the city. She introduces Annie to a glamorous, drug-fueled party lifestyle, offering a connection to Suzanne's world while harboring her own intense insecurities.

Butterfoot is a DJ in Montreal who quickly recognizes Annie as Suzanne's sister. Embedded in the city's nightlife, he serves as a link to Suzanne's past movements and becomes romantically involved with Annie.

Danny is an intimidating businessman from Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, connected to a dangerous criminal element. He pursues the debts left behind by Gus, bringing physical danger into Annie's search.

The Old Man is an elder living in Toronto who maintains a connection to traditional Indigenous ways despite the urban setting. He knows information about Suzanne and assigns Gordon to watch over Annie.

Xavier is Will and Lisette's late father, a World War I veteran who taught his children traditional Cree hunting and survival skills. His legacy, including his military rifle, looms large over Will's life.