Those Calloways

A fur trapper and rugged woodsman raised by the Micmac, Cam is a stubborn yet magnetic figure who lives for the geese migration. His dream of creating a sanctuary around Swiftwater Lake drives him to gamble the family’s security and even his own drinking habits. His relentless pursuit rallies some neighbors but also draws resistance, setting the stage for a town-wide clash over land and preserve.

Cam's wife, Liddy tolerates his eccentricities and whiskey-fueled lapses because she loves her family. She remains practical and protective, keeping faith with the dream while caring for the children. When Cam is wounded and the corn patch becomes a focal point, she acts to safeguard the patch and the family’s future.

An 18-year-old store clerk who becomes Bucky’s childhood sweetheart, Bridie embodies ordinary life in Swiftwater. She provides a grounded perspective amid turmoil and her growing feelings add a personal stake to the Calloways’ fight to protect the marsh.

Cam and Liddy’s 16-year-old son, Bucky learns the family trade and proves brave in danger. He helps with the fur season and Sounder, and his loyalty to Bridie tests the family’s priorities. His youth brings courage and a sense of hopeful renewal to the sanctuary project.

A traveling salesman who pretends to care about conservation while scheming to turn Swiftwater into a goose-hunting resort. He uses a front of philanthropy to fund his deception, including money to plant a corn patch. His schemes trigger Cam’s confrontation with profiteers and drive the town toward collective action.

A local resident who participates in the town’s response to the outsider threat. He supports the preservation effort and helps organize community action against private development. Nat embodies the practical, community-first impulse that underpins the sanctuary plan.

A local elder who helps shape public opinion and supports the drive to protect Swiftwater’s marsh. He represents traditional authority and becomes part of the coalition pressing for federal purchase. Doane helps translate community values into actionable support.

A schemer behind the resort plan, using money and influence to tempt Cam and others into selling the marsh. He embodies the predatory wing of industry threatening rural livelihoods. As public sentiment mobilizes, his scheme collapses under community resistance.

Bridie’s father and a member of the Swiftwater community who navigates the crisis alongside other locals. He weighs the value of preservation against pressures to cash in on the land. Jim helps reflect the town’s collective stake in the marsh.

A local resident who becomes involved in the marsh dispute as outsiders seek to influence town affairs. He represents the wary segment of the community while the sanctuary idea gains traction. Ollie’s stance highlights the tension between skepticism and reform.