{"publisher":{"name":"MediaBias News","url":"https://mediabias.news","methodology":"https://mediabias.news/methodology","editorialPrinciples":"https://mediabias.news/editorial-principles","corrections":"https://mediabias.news/corrections"},"scoreGuide":{"trust":"How well corroborated and evidenced the source reporting is. 0-100, higher is better.","critic":"Craft quality of the source journalism: context, balance, fact vs comment. 0-100, higher is better.","hype":"How far the source presentation runs ahead of substance. 0-100, LOWER IS BETTER.","scope":"Scores assess the original reporting this article was written from, not the truth of the underlying event and not the quality of this write-up."},"assessmentGuide":{"type":"coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis","factCheck":{"status":"not-performed","note":"Media Bias News compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It does not currently publish a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true."},"sourceFactuality":{"note":"Factuality values describe published ratings of the outlets that covered the story. They are not a factuality verdict on this story or its claims."}},"story":{"id":"https://mediabias.news/politics/bc-candidate-mike-hicks-says-first-nations-conquered-comment-was-out-of-context","slug":"bc-candidate-mike-hicks-says-first-nations-conquered-comment-was-out-of-context","url":"https://mediabias.news/politics/bc-candidate-mike-hicks-says-first-nations-conquered-comment-was-out-of-context","title":"BC candidate Mike Hicks says First Nations 'conquered' comment was out of context","subtitle":"Remarks made at a debate drew condemnation from Indigenous leaders and political opponents.","excerpt":"Conservative candidate Mike Hicks said First Nations 'have to be conquered' at a debate. He later stated the comment was taken out of context and he was advocating for treaty negotiations. Indigenous leaders and political rivals condemned his remarks.","category":"Politics","area":null,"publishedAt":"2026-10-17T01:45:42.300Z","sourceReportedAt":"2026-10-16T23:28:23.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-10-17T01:45:42.300Z","readTime":"3 min read","scores":{"trust":70,"critic":100,"hype":15,"notes":{"trust":"Trust 70: multiple named sources, official FNLC release, and independent outlets corroborate the candidate's remarks and responses.","critic":"Critic 100: provides context, quotes all sides, separates facts from opinion, includes dates and next steps.","hype":"Hype 15: language is measured; no sensationalist headlines beyond factual reporting."}},"tags":["#MikeHicks","#FirstNations","#BCPolitics","#Election2026","#IndigenousRights"],"entities":["Mike Hicks","First Nations Leadership Council","David Eby","Emily Lowan","Lorne Doerkson"],"body":[{"type":"key_takeaways","items":["Mike Hicks, Conservative candidate for Juan de Fuca-Malahat, stated at an Oct 9 debate that \"First Nations have to be conquered.\"","Hicks later issued a statement claiming the video was taken out of context and he was advocating for modern treaty negotiations.","The First Nations Leadership Council condemned Hicks' remarks as racist and invoking a history of colonialism.","BC NDP leader David Eby, BC Green leader Emily Lowan, and Conservative leader Lorne Doerkson publicly responded to the comments."]},{"type":"paragraph","text":"Conservative candidate Mike Hicks made remarks at an Oct 9 debate in Mill Bay, stating, \"First Nations have to be conquered.\" A portion of the exchange was shared on social media. Hicks was speaking at an all-candidates meeting for the Juan de Fuca-Malahat riding."},{"type":"paragraph","text":"Following the circulation of the video clip, Hicks issued a statement asserting the comments were taken out of context. He explained he was discussing historical context and advocating for the development of modern treaties. The First Nations Leadership Council, comprising the B.C. Assembly of First Nations, First Nations Summit, and Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, issued a news release condemning the remarks as \"deeply racist\" and invoking a \"violent history of colonialism.\""},{"type":"paragraph","text":"BC NDP leader David Eby described the comments as \"extremism\" and part of the \"chaos of the Conservatives.\" BC Green leader Emily Lowan called for Conservative leader Lorne Doerkson to remove Hicks as a candidate. Doerkson stated he was not aware of the specific comment but that it \"sounds pretty offensive.\""},{"type":"heading","text":"Disagreement on context"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"Mike Hicks said the clip was taken out of context and he was advocating for modern treaty negotiations, according to CBC News and Chek News. Chek News also reported that T’Sou-ke Coun. Debra Lazzar, who shared the video, called the comments \"profoundly offensive and deeply concerning,\" stating that Indigenous rights are not \"red tape.\""},{"type":"heading","text":"What the coverage left out"},{"type":"paragraph","text":"None of the 18 reports printed below mention the date of the debate as October 9, 2026, or the location as Mill Bay, British Columbia. The unrated digest from Island Social Trends mentions the date as October 9 and the location as Mill Bay, but does not specify the year."}],"basedOn":[{"sourceName":"Island Social Trends","url":"https://islandsocialtrends.ca/bc-conservative-jdf-malahat-candidate-mike-hicks-on-his-first-nations-comment","headline":"BC Conservative JDF-Malahat candidate Mike Hicks on his First Nations comment","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-10-16T23:28:23.000Z"},{"sourceName":"CBC News","url":"https://cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/mike-hicks-conquer-first-nations-bc-9.7384744","headline":"Indigenous leaders condemn Conservative candidate's comments about First Nations being 'conquered'","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-10-16T23:12:39.012Z"},{"sourceName":"Today In BC","url":"https://todayinbc.com/2026/10/16/b-c-conservative-candidate-says-first-nations-conquered-comment-taken-out-of-context","headline":"B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-10-16T22:37:00.000Z"},{"sourceName":"Burns Lake Lakes District News","url":"https://burnslakelakesdistrictnews.com/2026/10/16/b-c-conservative-candidate-says-first-nations-conquered-comment-taken-out-of-context","headline":"B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-10-16T22:37:00.000Z"},{"sourceName":"Penticton Western News","url":"https://pentictonwesternnews.com/2026/10/16/b-c-conservative-candidate-says-first-nations-conquered-comment-taken-out-of-context","headline":"B.C. 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Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-10-16T22:37:00.000Z"},{"sourceName":"Peninsula News Review","url":"https://peninsulanewsreview.com/2026/10/16/first-nations-conquered-comment-taken-out-of-context-juan-de-fuca-malahat-candidate","headline":"First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context: Juan de Fuca-Malahat candidate","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-10-16T22:37:00.000Z"},{"sourceName":"Houston Today","url":"https://houston-today.com/2026/10/16/b-c-conservative-candidate-says-first-nations-conquered-comment-taken-out-of-context","headline":"B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-10-16T22:37:00.000Z"},{"sourceName":"ominecaexpress.com","url":"https://ominecaexpress.com/2026/10/16/b-c-conservative-candidate-says-first-nations-conquered-comment-taken-out-of-context","headline":"B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context - Vanderhoof Omineca Express","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-10-16T22:37:00.000Z"},{"sourceName":"grandforksgazette.ca","url":"https://grandforksgazette.ca/2026/10/16/b-c-conservative-candidate-says-first-nations-conquered-comment-taken-out-of-context","headline":"B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context","angle":"","publishedAt":"2026-10-16T22:37:00.000Z"},{"sourceName":"Caledonia Courier","url":"https://caledoniacourier.com/2026/10/16/b-c-conservative-candidate-says-first-nations-conquered-comment-taken-out-of-context","headline":"B.C. 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