Belle Graycloud is established very early on as the matriarchal figure in the novel, and her ties to the people, the traditions, and the earth make her a vital character in the development of the novel’s theme. She is compared to Lila Blanket, the river prophet of the Hill people, who, the reader is told, is a powerful matriarch of the Hill settlement. While Lila nurtures the Hill settlement, Belle nurtures the town of Watona. Lila trusts Belle with her only child, Grace, who Lila hopes will learn the ways of the white people and help to save the Hill settlement. Lila is the biological mother of Nola, and Belle becomes the nurturing mother of the believed savior of the people. Though Grace does not follow in her mother’s footsteps, Nola—in essence, granddaughter to both women—will prove to be a river prophet, a fact suggested by her understanding of the water’s messages near the end of the novel. Faithfully, Belle follows the traditions of her heritage. She performs the corn ceremony during planting season while other Indians use fertilizer; she wears traditional clothing and practices traditional medicine. She also protects and communes with the sacred animals of the earth—eagles, bats, buffalo, and bees—proving a vigilant warrior when these animals are threatened or desecrated. Hogan’s characterization of Belle works to unite the earth, the people, and their traditions. When the traditions are not observed and the earth and its animals are injured, the people too will suffer.

Stace Red Hawk also has strong emotional ties to his people, traditions, and earth, though when the novel commences he has unintentionally weakened these connections. Stace became a reservation police officer against the advice of his mother, and that job leads to his eventual placement at the Bureau of Investigations. Stace’s intentions were noble, as he hopes to aid his people through legal methods within the white system; however, this move literally removes him from his homeland and those things most important to his Native American culture. Through this depiction of Stace, Hogan comments on the dangers of complete assimilation. Stace, no longer with his Lakota people, feels the pull toward helping other Indians and becomes emotionally involved in what might have been just another case. He never ceases his ritual patterns, even while in Washington, D.C., but once back in a Native American community, he feels the strength of his culture and increasingly turns back toward it and away from his government life. Additionally, Stace becomes increasingly compelled to be outside, in the natural world. By the end of the novel, he sleeps outside constantly, and he chooses to return to his people via horse.

Michael Horse serves as a seer and the keeper of the eternal fire for the Osage tribe. As the tribal historian, he records the history of his people and seeks to solve the murders plaguing the community. Although he is the last person in the territory to live in a tepee, he is also one of the first to own a car, illustrating his unique position between tradition and modernity. Horse’s connection to nature leads him to live among the Hill Indians, where he continues his historical work and gains a deeper understanding of the events in Watona.

Moses Graycloud, Belle’s husband and Osage elder. Although quiet and less flamboyant than his wife, Moses is an outspoken leader. When government officials try to cheat him and other Indians out of their government allotments, Moses bravely objects, but to no avail. As a result of his reduced income,...

Nola, the daughter of Grace Blanket, inherits her mother's considerable wealth. After witnessing Grace's murder, she is taken in by the Grayclouds for protection. The traumatic event leaves a lasting impact on her psyche, leading to a rebellious and challenging behavior during her schooling years. Nola is deeply mistrustful of Mr. Forrest, her guardian, fearing for her life amidst the conspiracy surrounding her family’s fortune. At thirteen, she marries Will Forrest, whom she initially grows fond of, but paranoia regarding her inheritance drives her to murder him. Fleeing to the Hill Indians, Nola seeks refuge and gives birth to a daughter, continuing the lineage of matriarchal influence.

Grace Blanket, daughter of Lila Blanket, becomes the wealthiest Indian in Watona due to the oil discovered on her land. Raised by Belle Graycloud, Grace represents the bridge between the Hill Indians and life in Watona, as envisioned by her mother. Despite this, she is largely uninterested in her cultural heritage, opting instead for a life of luxury made possible by her oil wealth. Her fortune makes her a target, and she is eventually murdered by Hale and his associates.

Lettie Graycloud is the eldest daughter of Moses and Belle, known for her striking beauty and her involvement with Benoit. Their relationship, which begins as an affair, culminates in marriage even as Benoit is imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit. After Benoit's tragic death, which is suspected to be orchestrated by Sheriff Jess Gold, Lettie becomes more engaged in her community's affairs, upholding her family’s legacy despite the personal losses she endures.

Benoit, a charming French Indian figure, marries Sara Blanket to integrate into the Osage tribe while maintaining a romantic relationship with Lettie Graycloud. Wrongfully accused of Sara’s murder, he is left languishing in jail without a trial. Despite these tribulations, Benoit marries Lettie, but is found hanged shortly after—an act suspected to be a murder staged as suicide by Jess Gold, further complicating the network of deceit and corruption.

John Hale is an oil magnate and the orchestrator of a scheme to exploit the Osage Indians for their oil-rich lands. By convincing them to take out life insurance policies with him as the beneficiary, Hale arranges their deaths to claim the payouts. His manipulative prowess goes unchecked for much of the novel until his eventual capture, trial, and imprisonment for his role in the murders and corruption.

Jess Gold, the sheriff of Watona, initially appears to be a law enforcement officer but is later revealed to be deeply entrenched in Hale's criminal enterprise. Originally drawn to Lettie Graycloud, his motives are suspect as his true allegiance lies with Hale’s gang. After a failed attempt to murder Belle Graycloud, Gold meets his end when Belle’s bees attack him, leading to his demise before Hale's operations are publicly exposed.

Lila Blanket, a river prophet from the Hill Indian settlement, entrusts Belle Graycloud with the care of her daughter Grace, hoping she will become a bridge between the traditional and modern worlds. Lila’s spiritual role in the community aligns her with Belle, as both women symbolize matriarchal strength and guidance for their respective communities.

Louise Graycloud, daughter of Moses and Belle, initially distances herself from her native heritage, marrying Floyd, a white man who adopts her surname and embraces Indian culture. However, witnessing the suffering inflicted upon her people by white Americans compels Louise to reject white cultural influences and return to her roots.

Floyd Graycloud, Louise's white husband, chooses to take her surname and fully embrace the Osage culture, becoming a part of the tribe and fathering Ben and Rena, perpetuating the Graycloud legacy.

Mr. Forrest is both Benoit's lawyer and the guardian of Nola's substantial fortune, tasked with managing her affairs. Although viewed with suspicion by Nola, he is a principled man who strives to uncover the truth behind the murder conspiracy. His untimely death, precipitated by his investigation, sparks a federal probe into the corrupt dealings surrounding the Osage murders.

Walter Bird, incarcerated alongside Benoit, is periodically released by Jess Gold to carry out murders for John Hale. His involvement further illustrates the insidious reach of Hale’s criminal network within the community.

Ona Neck, an elderly Osage woman, is entrusted by Michael Horse with the responsibility of tending to the eternal fire when he is absent. Her role signifies the continuity of tradition and cultural preservation amidst the surrounding turmoil.

Ruth Graycloud, Moses's twin sister, is trapped in an unhappy marriage with John Tate. Her tragic end at the hands of her husband starkly contrasts her brother’s struggle to protect his family and uphold justice within their community.

John Tate, the white husband of Ruth Graycloud, is implicated in the criminal activities of Hale’s gang. His marriage to Ruth is fraught with tension and ultimately ends in violence, as he murders her before being killed by Moses in an act of familial retribution.

Doctor Benjamin Black serves as the town’s physician and is one of the early skeptics of John Hale’s activities, noting the suspicious deaths following life insurance exams. Faced with fear and intimidation, Black eventually leaves town, but not before sowing seeds of doubt about Hale's integrity.

Joe Billy, the son of the former tribe medicine man, transitions from Christianity back to his ancestral spiritual roots, particularly embracing Bat Medicine. This shift occurs as he witnesses the unraveling chaos in Watona, ultimately leading him and his wife Martha to seek solace among the Hill Indians.

Martha Billy, the white wife of Joe Billy, fully immerses herself in Osage culture, supporting Joe in his return to traditional spiritual practices. Her commitment to understanding and living within the tribe's customs exemplifies the blending of cultures amid adversity.

John Stink, an eccentric hermit, finds himself entangled in the novel’s events through an unusual series of occurrences. Believed to be dead, he is buried by the community, only to later emerge, confused and mistaken for a ghost due to his inability to communicate. His status highlights the novel's exploration of perception and identity, further complicated by China’s failed attempt to marry him for his inheritance.

China, a young and beautiful associate of John Hale, plays a duplicitous role in the novel. Initially attempting to marry John Stink for financial gain, she fails due to his legal status and ultimately testifies against Hale, adding a layer of complexity to the unfolding narrative.

Ben Graycloud, the son of Louise and Floyd, harbors a soft spot for Nola and is distressed by her marriage to Will. As he matures, Ben grapples with alcohol dependency, his struggles reflecting the broader themes of identity and coping within his community.

Rena Graycloud, daughter of Louise and Floyd, shares a close friendship with Nola and witnesses the murder of Grace Blanket alongside her. Her role underscores the pervasive violence and its impact on the younger generation of the Osage tribe.

Father Dunne, a priest who distances himself from conventional society, earns the nickname "Hog Priest" for his unconventional practice of blessing animals. His retreat into the wilderness and eventual residence with the Hill Indians highlight the novel's exploration of spirituality and sanctuary.

John Thomas, a victim of the escalating violence, becomes a tragic figure when he is found dead shortly after claiming to know Grace Blanket’s murderer. Michael Horse's forewarning of Thomas’s danger becomes a grim reality, further deepening the mystery surrounding the murders.

Jim Josh is known for his eccentricity, notably growing tomatoes in his car. His poisoning by Hale and subsequent coercion into signing incriminating documents make him an involuntary participant in exposing Hale’s criminal activities, indirectly aiding Mr. Forrest's investigation.

Lionel Tall, a spiritual leader from the Sioux tribe, visits Watona to aid the Osage in healing from their traumatic experiences and to reconnect with Stace Red Hawk. Having lost his own family in a government massacre, Tall provides a perspective on the costs of colonial violence and serves as a mentor figure to Stace.

Ballard, Stace’s superior, is a figure of authority from Washington DC. He is suspicious of Stace's emotional involvement in the case and seeks to remove him, reflecting the tension between personal commitment and bureaucratic constraints in law enforcement.

Levee, a fellow investigator and former doctor, assists Stace by posing as the new town doctor. His dual roles highlight the investigation's covert nature and the lengths to which the characters go to uncover the truth amidst widespread corruption.