Louis Riel, with two young children, has…

Louis Riel, with two young children, has settled down and is teaching school at the St. Peter's Jesuit mission in the Sun River district of Montana when he is called to Saskatchewan in 1884 to lead Métis and Euro-Canadians in protests against Canada’s western policies.

It is a mission from which he will not return.

Riel had married Marguerite Monet dit Bellehumeur (1861–1886), a young Métis, "in the fashion of the country" on April 28, 1881, an arrangement that had been solemnized on March 9, 1882.

They are to have three children: Jean-Louis (1882–1908); Marie-Angélique (1883–1897); and a boy who is born and dies on October 21, 1885, less than one month before Riel is hanged.

Riel had soon become involved in the politics of Montana, and in 1882, had actively campaigned on behalf of the Republican Party.

He had brought a suit against a Democrat for rigging a vote, but was then himself accused of fraudulently inducing British subjects to take part in the election.

In response, Riel had applied for United States citizenship and had been naturalized on March 16, 1883.