Unpacking Operation Rainbow, Part 1 with Glen Hare and Patrick Madahbee

Unpacking Operation Rainbow, Part 1: Glen Hare and Patrick Madahbee on a controversial 1980s Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources sting operation and the fight for Anishinabek harvesting rights on Manitoulin Island.

In this episode of Bemaadizijig Ganoonindwaa, host Lisa Abel explores the lasting impact of Operation Rainbow, a controversial undercover investigation conducted by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources on Manitoulin Island in the late 1980s. Featuring firsthand perspectives from former Anishinabek Nation leaders Glen Hare and Patrick Madahbee, the conversation traces how the operation, widely viewed by Anishinabek First Nations as entrapment, disrupted lives, strained relationships, and deepened tensions over Aboriginal and Treaty rights to harvest natural resources. Together, they reflect on the broader historical context of government interference, the cultural and community-based approaches to hunting and fishing, and the enduring legacy of mistrust that continues to shape relationships today.

This podcast is produced by the Communications Department at the Anishinabek Nation.

Transcript: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/cr9uhnyte4gdzpts/S03E02_Operation_Rainbow_Transcript_2026-06-05.pdf

Music:  “Minou Pimatiswen” by Nigel Irwin and Bryden Gwiss Kiwenzie, and “Down in the Valley” by Graeme Jonez, provided by Nagamo Publishing. And, "Leaving Home" by Kevin MacLeod, Licensed under Creative Commons by Attribution 4.0.