Cole is a cynical fifteen-year-old from Minneapolis who faces serious jail time for brutally assaulting a classmate. Raised in a wealthy but highly abusive household, he masks his deep vulnerability with violence and defiance. He views the Tlingit Healing Circle and his subsequent banishment to an island not as an opportunity for personal growth, but as a temporary game to escape a prison sentence.

Garvey is a Tlingit probation officer operating out of Minneapolis. Drawing from his own troubled youth and time spent in prison, he advocates for restorative justice rather than traditional incarceration. He sponsors Cole's entry into Circle Justice, possessing immense patience and an ability to see through the teenager's manipulative facade.

Edwin is a Tlingit elder from the small town of Drake, Alaska. He constructs the rudimentary shelter for Cole's banishment and provides him with basic survival instructions before leaving him alone. Deeply connected to the natural world, he speaks in short, direct statements and refuses to tolerate disrespect.

Peter is a ninth-grade student who reports Cole for robbing a local hardware store. In retaliation, he suffers a brutal beating that leaves him with permanent brain damage, impairing his speech and motor functions. His fragile presence at the Healing Circle highlights the devastating, real-world consequences of unchecked violence.

Cole's father is a wealthy Minneapolis resident who battles an alcohol addiction and extreme anger issues. Behind closed doors, he subjects his son to brutal beatings, using objects like a metal belt buckle to inflict pain. In public, he hires expensive lawyers and lies smoothly to maintain his social standing and avoid legal consequences.

The Spirit Bear is an incredibly rare, pure white black bear native to British Columbia, Canada. Possessing an unusual lack of fear toward humans, it projects a sense of pride and dignity. Its sudden appearance on the remote Alaskan island infuriates Cole, who expects the animal to flee in terror.

Cole's mother is a passive woman who prioritizes her outward appearance and social standing over her family's internal safety. She struggles with alcohol addiction and remains entirely silent during her husband's violent outbursts, lacking the courage to intervene or protect her son from physical harm.

The Keeper is an elder woman responsible for organizing and facilitating the community justice circles in Minneapolis. She maintains order by passing around a symbolic feather, ensuring that only the person holding it is permitted to speak. She prioritizes community healing and giving victims a voice over simple punitive measures.