--- title: "BC candidate Mike Hicks says First Nations 'conquered' comment was out of context" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/bc-candidate-mike-hicks-says-first-nations-conquered-comment-was-out-of-context" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/bc-candidate-mike-hicks-says-first-nations-conquered-comment-was-out-of-context" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/bc-candidate-mike-hicks-says-first-nations-conquered-comment-was-out-of-context.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/bc-candidate-mike-hicks-says-first-nations-conquered-comment-was-out-of-context" category: "Politics" published: "2026-10-17T01:45:42.300Z" source_reported: "2026-10-16T23:28:23.000Z" updated: "2026-10-17T01:45:42.300Z" trust_score: 70 critic_score: 100 hype_score: 15 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-10-17T00:55:09.504Z" --- # BC candidate Mike Hicks says First Nations 'conquered' comment was out of context *Remarks made at a debate drew condemnation from Indigenous leaders and political opponents.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 70 of 100, higher is better. Trust 70: multiple named sources, official FNLC release, and independent outlets corroborate the candidate's remarks and responses. - Craft 100 of 100, higher is better. Critic 100: provides context, quotes all sides, separates facts from opinion, includes dates and next steps. - Hype 15 of 100, lower is better. Hype 15: language is measured; no sensationalist headlines beyond factual reporting. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - 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. 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. 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." 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." ## Disagreement on context 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." ## What the coverage left out 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. ## Who covered it Shares of the 15 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 87% (13) - Centre: 13% (2) - Right: 0% (0) 3 of 18 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-10-17T00:55:09.504Z. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 3 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-10-17T02:30:13.812Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - Thirteen left-rated reports led on the condemnation of Mike Hicks' remarks by Indigenous leaders and political figures. These reports highlighted that the First Nations Leadership Council called the comments "deeply racist" and invoked a "violent history of colonialism." They also noted that BC NDP leader David Eby called the remarks "extremism" and BC Green leader Emily Lowan called for Hicks' removal as a candidate. Several left-rated digests, including those from Burns Lake Lakes District News, Penticton Western News, and Smithers Interior News, used the headline "B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context." ### Centre - Two centre-rated reports focused on the criticism directed at Mike Hicks' statement. Chek News, a full report, highlighted that the comment drew criticism from a T’Sou-ke councillor and was addressed by BC NDP leader David Eby and BC Green leader Emily Lowan. Indo-Canadian Voice, a digest, reported that BC Green Leader Emily Lowan was calling on BC Conservative Leader Lorne Doerkson to remove Hicks as a candidate following his remarks. ### Right No separate framing summary. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - high: 8 - unknown: 3 - veryHigh: 7 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Island Social Trends](https://islandsocialtrends.ca/bc-conservative-jdf-malahat-candidate-mike-hicks-on-his-first-nations-comment) — BC Conservative JDF-Malahat candidate Mike Hicks on his First Nations comment - [CBC News](https://cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/mike-hicks-conquer-first-nations-bc-9.7384744) — Indigenous leaders condemn Conservative candidate's comments about First Nations being 'conquered' - [Today In BC](https://todayinbc.com/2026/10/16/b-c-conservative-candidate-says-first-nations-conquered-comment-taken-out-of-context) — B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context - [Burns Lake Lakes District News](https://burnslakelakesdistrictnews.com/2026/10/16/b-c-conservative-candidate-says-first-nations-conquered-comment-taken-out-of-context) — B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context - [Penticton Western News](https://pentictonwesternnews.com/2026/10/16/b-c-conservative-candidate-says-first-nations-conquered-comment-taken-out-of-context) — B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context - [Sooke News Mirror](https://sookenewsmirror.com/2026/10/16/first-nations-conquered-comment-taken-out-of-context-juan-de-fuca-malahat-candidate) — First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context: Juan de Fuca-Malahat candidate - [Smithers Interior News](https://interior-news.com/2026/10/16/b-c-conservative-candidate-says-first-nations-conquered-comment-taken-out-of-context) — B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context - The Interior News - Smithers BC - [Kitimat Northern Sentinel](https://northernsentinel.com/2026/10/16/b-c-conservative-candidate-says-first-nations-conquered-comment-taken-out-of-context) — B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context - Northern Sentinel - [The Free Press](https://thefreepress.ca/2026/10/16/b-c-conservative-candidate-says-first-nations-conquered-comment-taken-out-of-context) — B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context - [Peninsula News Review](https://peninsulanewsreview.com/2026/10/16/first-nations-conquered-comment-taken-out-of-context-juan-de-fuca-malahat-candidate) — First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context: Juan de Fuca-Malahat candidate - [Houston Today](https://houston-today.com/2026/10/16/b-c-conservative-candidate-says-first-nations-conquered-comment-taken-out-of-context) — B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context - [ominecaexpress.com](https://ominecaexpress.com/2026/10/16/b-c-conservative-candidate-says-first-nations-conquered-comment-taken-out-of-context) — B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context - Vanderhoof Omineca Express - [grandforksgazette.ca](https://grandforksgazette.ca/2026/10/16/b-c-conservative-candidate-says-first-nations-conquered-comment-taken-out-of-context) — B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context - [Caledonia Courier](https://caledoniacourier.com/2026/10/16/b-c-conservative-candidate-says-first-nations-conquered-comment-taken-out-of-context) — B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context - Fort St. James Caledonia Courier - [crestonvalleyadvance.ca](https://crestonvalleyadvance.ca/2026/10/16/b-c-conservative-candidate-says-first-nations-conquered-comment-taken-out-of-context) — B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context - [Indo-Canadian Voice](https://voiceonline.com/bc-greens-to-doerkson-remove-conservative-candidate-who-said-first-nations-have-to-be-conquered) — BC Greens to Doerkson: Remove Conservative candidate who said First Nations “have to be conquered” - [Newswire](https://newswire.ca/news-releases/fnlc-condemns-racist-remarks-by-bc-conservative-candidate-calling-for-first-nations-to-be-conquered--887319855.html) — FNLC CONDEMNS RACIST REMARKS BY BC CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATE CALLING FOR FIRST NATIONS TO BE "CONQUERED" - [Chek news](https://cheknews.ca/first-nations-have-to-be-conquered-comment-by-south-island-conservative-candidate-draws-criticism-1353821) — 'First Nations have to be conquered' comment by South Island Conservative candidate draws criticism ## Questions **What did BC candidate Mike Hicks say about First Nations?** At an Oct 9 debate, Mike Hicks, Conservative candidate for Juan de Fuca-Malahat, said "First Nations have to be conquered." He later stated this was taken out of context and he was advocating for modern treaty negotiations. **How did Indigenous leaders and politicians react to Hicks' comments?** The First Nations Leadership Council condemned the remarks as "deeply racist." BC NDP leader David Eby called them "extremism," and BC Green leader Emily Lowan called for Hicks' removal as a candidate. Conservative leader Lorne Doerkson found the comment "offensive." **Did Mike Hicks apologise for his remarks?** Mike Hicks issued a statement saying the video clip was taken out of context. He explained he was discussing historical context and making a case for developing modern treaties, rather than defending past actions. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/bc-candidate-mike-hicks-says-first-nations-conquered-comment-was-out-of-context. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "BC candidate Mike Hicks says First Nations 'conquered' comment was out of context", https://mediabias.news/politics/bc-candidate-mike-hicks-says-first-nations-conquered-comment-was-out-of-context