A 1881, ya yi aure Marguerite Monet dit Bellehumeur (1861<unk>1886), wani matashi Métis, "a cikin fashion na kasar" a ranar 28 ga Afrilu, wani tsari da aka solemnized a kan 9 Maris 1882 a Carroll, Montana da Uba Damiani. Sun kasance da 'ya'ya uku: Jean-Louis (1882<unk>1908); Marie-Alique (1883<unk>1897); da kuma wani yaro wanda aka haife kuma ya mutu a kan 21 Oktoba 1885, kasa da wata daya kafin Riel ya koyar. Riel ya zama mai aiki a siyasar Birtaniya gundumar, da kuma Métis mutane, ya tsunduma a cikin wani rashin cin nasara ƙoƙari don rage sayar da giya. A watan Maris 1883, Riel ya fara aiki a wani yanki na Amurka da kuma ya rataye kansa a kan wani ɓangare na Jam'iyyar Republican, wanda aka zargi da yin amfani da rigakafin kuri'a a madadin 'ya'ya biyu.
Gundumar Sun River