Monica Dutton

Monica is a Native American and a lifelong resident of the Broken Rock Indian Reservation. Her marriage to Kayce Dutton placed the couple in a difficult position between the Yellowstone Ranch, the Dutton family, and the Broken Rock Native Americans. She was a teacher at Heartsong High School and later obtained a job at Montana State University.

Throughout the series, Monica is unaware of her brother's death from the beginning. After his widow commits suicide, in what Monica considers a sacrifice for the well-being of her children, she tells Kayce that she believes they should consider leaving the reservation to spare Tate the sadness of his cousins ​​moving to Seattle to live with their grandparents.

In an attempt to convince Kayce, Monica, and Tate to move to Yellowstone Ranch, John and Jamie get Mel Thompson at Montana State University to offer Monica a position as an assistant professor of Native American Studies in his growing liberal arts department while she works toward her doctorate. Monica declines the offer, aware that John orchestrated the situation, and points out that on a reservation there are never any new professors waiting to replace someone like her. ("The Memory")

One morning, upon arriving at school, Monica and Tate find two older students fighting. To try and separate them, Monica pulls on the arm of the older boy. He inadvertently pushes her into the path of his opponent, who knocks her to the ground, where her head hits the pavement, causing a traumatic brain injury that requires emergency surgery, hospitalization, and rehabilitation. ("A Monster Is Among Us")

While confined to a wheelchair in the hospital, she decides that, despite loving Kayce, she needs to protect her son from the Dutton family and the danger inherent in their way of life.

By the second season, Monica has recovered from her injuries. She resumes using her last name.