Minor Characters
Maiingan
Maiingan is Evan and Nicole’s five-year-old son and Nangohns’s brother. His name means “wolf” in Anishinaabemowin. He’s sweet and kind, although he’s somewhat more passive than Nangohns. Together, Maiingan and his sister represent hope for the Anishinaabe culture’s survival.
Patricia (Evan’s mother)
Patricia is Evan’s mother and Dan’s wife. She’s a kind, jovial person. Before the power goes out, Patricia loves to spend her time gambling online. When the winter worsens, she and Dan move in with Evan and Nicole to conserve energy, which helps them survive the winter.
Jenna
Jenna is Sydney’s teenage sister. After attending a party at Cam and Sydney’s bungalow, Jenna and her friend Tara freeze to death on her way home, having incorrectly gauged the weather. Their deaths trigger widespread trauma in the community, especially among its youths.
Tara
Tara is a teenager who freezes to death (along with her friend Jenna) while attempting to walk home in the cold after a party at Cam’s house.
Nanabush
Nanabush is a character in one of Dan’s traditional Anishinaabe stories. Dan’s story teaches Maiingan and Nangohns about the importance of preparing for the winter and not being too greedy.
Brad Connor
Brad is Meghan’s husband. He quickly takes up alliances with Scott, whose toxic values motivate Brad to treat Meghan poorly.
Alex Richer
Alex seeks refuge on the reserve, along with Brad, Meghan, and Mark Phillips. Alex joins forces with Scott shortly after arriving on the scene.
Sydney
Sydney is Cam’s girlfriend and Jenna’s sister. Like Cam, she’s a fun-loving character. However, as the winter progresses, Sydney grows warier of Cam’s worsening condition, eventually reaching out to Evan for help.
Joanne Birch
Joanne is a member of the council that runs the reserve. Her main job is printing flyers that update the reserve’s residents about the power outage and energy conservation efforts.
Amanda
Amanda is Jenna’s mother. She’s an active community member who helps distribute rations throughout the winter. Amanda grief-stricken by Jenna’s death, but she’s resilient in supporting the community despite her personal hardships.
Tammy
Tammy is Nicole’s older cousin. She and her partner, Will, are close with Evan and Nicole, and they comfort one another during the wintry crisis.
Will
Will is Tammy’s partner.
Vinny Jones
Vinny Jones is a community member who selfishly ignores community notices and keeps all his lights on, even though others are trying to conserve energy with dwindling fuel supplies. Vinny doesn’t survive the winter.
Candance North
Candance is Isaiah’s mother; she’s a member of the council that runs the reserve. Candace is a nurturing figure who often soothes reserve chief Terry Meegis when he’s nervous about addressing the community at their meetings.
Jeff
Jeff is a community member who helps out with hunting. He dismisses Scott’s egotistical pride when Scott kills a moose, explaining that the community tries not to overhunt in order to live in equilibrium with the land.