Bull is the chief of the fictional Little Elk tribe. He is a large man with a rough face and a surprisingly lively voice. Dedicated to protecting his people from white settlers, he insists on keeping them isolated in the mountains and preserving their traditional values against encroaching colonialism. He struggles with a reluctance to act but also possesses an explosive anger when pushed.

Henry Jim is Bull's older brother who previously chose to integrate into the white settlers' society. He built a ranch with a wooden house and cooperated with government officials, a decision that alienated him from his family and led to Bull being named chief instead of him. As his health begins to fail, he leaves his wooden house for a tepee and seeks to make amends with his brother and his heritage.

Adam Pell is a tall, angular industrialist, museum owner, and engineer. He frequently wears tweed clothing and views himself as a champion of progress. He focuses on implementing industrial practices, collecting cultural artifacts for his museum, and managing his vast professional responsibilities from New York, often overlooking the local damage his projects cause.

Toby Rafferty is the superintendent at the Little Elk Indian Agency. He has a round face with tufted red hair. Entering his position during a wave of reform, he attempts to balance his professional duties with a humanist desire to improve the lives of the Little Elk people. He often struggles to understand their cultural traditions and faces frustration over the disconnected directives he receives from Washington.

The Boy, whose English name is Richard Marks, serves as the tribal police officer for the community. At 54 years old and physically large, he is still referred to as "The Boy" by both the Indigenous and white communities. He occupies a precarious position as a mediator and interpreter between the Little Elk tribe and the government agency.

Doc Edwards is the physician at the Little Elk Indian Agency. He is a small, graying, quick-moving man known for his strong opinions. As the oldest and longest-serving staff member at the agency, he possesses a practical, grounded understanding of the tribe that contrasts with the administrative approach of his colleagues. He refuses to impose Western medical examinations on tribal members who prefer traditional ways.

Antoine is Bull's young grandson who has recently returned from a government-run residential school in Oregon. The experience stripped him of his traditional name and left him with lingering trauma, though he now attempts to reconnect with his heritage by letting his hair grow long again. He is being carefully groomed by Bull for future leadership.

Pock Face is a tall, stringy young man from Bull's camp who wears cowboy boots and possesses a rebellious streak. He frequently displays a mix of bravado and defiance, breaking away from the measured approach of the tribal elders. He harbors deep anger over the white settlers taking the area's water, which drives him to drastic measures.

Two Sleeps is an elder and holy man in Bull's camp. He has unbraided white hair and a welcoming face. Though he possesses no blood relatives in the tribe, he was taken in years ago after arriving hungry and beaten. He earned his respected position by guiding the community to a life-saving buffalo herd and now provides essential spiritual guidance to the camp.

Reverend Welles is the local missionary near the Little Elk Reservation. He firmly believes that Indigenous Americans must abandon their traditions and assimilate into Western civilization to survive. He views the tribe's cultural practices as hindrances to progress and actively works to separate them from their sacred artifacts.

Sid Grant is a United States marshal assigned to investigate a major crime near the Little Elk Reservation. He is aggressive in his pursuit of suspects and immediately directs his suspicion toward the Indigenous community, often clashing with agency officials over jurisdiction and methods.

Jimmie Cooke is the caretaker of the dam on the Little Elk Reservation. He works for his uncle's engineering project and oversees the structure that blocks the river, making him a visible symbol of the environmental changes forced upon the valley.

Thomas Cooke is a state circuit judge who travels to the region following a family emergency. He approaches legal matters with a formal mindset and tries to maintain composure amidst his family's distress over the situation at the dam.

Geneva Cooke is Thomas's wife and Adam Pell's sister. She harbors long-standing resentment toward her brother's wealth, his detachment from the family, and his intense focus on collecting Indigenous American artifacts.

Veronica is Bull's senior wife. She is a stabilizing presence in the camp, managing the household and occasionally scolding the younger women when they misbehave. She pays close attention to the elders and tries to maintain harmony within the family structure.

Catherine is Bull's second wife. She was brought into the household at Veronica's suggestion so that Bull would have someone younger to confide in regarding his deep worries about the people and their future.

Lucelle is Pock Face's anxious wife. She frequently worries about her husband's rebellious behavior and the trouble he brings to their family by challenging the white authorities.

Louis is Pock Face's father and a member of Bull's camp. He is deeply skeptical of the government's promises and fiercely protective of his son, constantly anticipating betrayal from white authorities.

Theobold is an older relative in the camp who frequently gambles and gets into trouble alongside his nephew Pock Face. Despite his participation in misdeeds, he often worries about the weather and safety when venturing out.

Celeste is Bull's eldest and favorite daughter. She suffered immense psychological trauma when her son, Antoine, was taken away to a government school, becoming violent and inconsolable until her eventual death.

Marie Louise is a woman in Bull's camp known for her stubbornness. She insists on taking all her possessions during an evacuation, causing complications when her overloaded horse throws off her items and runs away.

Jerome is Antoine's uncle, who maintains a camp where the women seek refuge during times of trouble with the white authorities.