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Mike Hicks faces criticism over First Nations 'conquered' comment

British Columbia election First Nations treaty negotiations Mike Hicks Conservative Party

Mike Hicks, the Conservative candidate for Juan de Fuca-Malahat in British Columbia, is facing intense criticism following comments made during an October 9 debate. Hicks stated that First Nations must be “conquered,” a remark that was widely circulated on social media.

Hicks has defended his words, claiming they were taken out of context. He explained that he was inartfully describing historical legal frameworks, noting that under English law, territories were historically acquired either through war or treaty. He emphasized that British Columbia settled without doing either and stated, “And I’m all for it, of course,” in reference to negotiating treaties.

However, critics have condemned the language. T’Sou-ke Councillor Debra Lazzar called the comments “profoundly offensive and deeply concerning,” arguing that framing Indigenous rights as a barrier to economic growth erases historical harm. NDP candidate Dana Lajeunesse also condemned the choice of words, stating that the term “conquered” carries a painful history. Green Party Leader Emily Lowan has called for the Conservative Party to remove Hicks from their candidate slate.

Entities

Conservative Party · Conservative Party of British Columbia · Dana Lajeunesse · Emily Lowan · Juan de Fuca-Malahat · Mike Hicks · T’Sou-ke Nation

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

Sources

B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context - The Similkameen Spotlight [similkameenspotlight.com]
B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context - Fort St. James Caledonia Courier [caledoniacourier.com]
B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context [chemainusvalleycourier.ca]
First Nations leaders demand B.C. candidate retract remarks [canadanewsmedia.ca]
B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context - Barriere North Thompson Star [barrierestarjournal.com]
B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context - Cowichan Valley Citizen [cowichanvalleycitizen.com]
B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context [northernsentinel.com]
B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context [agassizharrisonobserver.com]
B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context [grandforksgazette.ca]
B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context [todayinbc.com]
B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context [kimberleybulletin.com]
B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context - Nelson Star [nelsonstar.com]
B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context - Quesnel Cariboo Observer [quesnelobserver.com]
B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context [burnslakelakesdistrictnews.com]
B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context [thenorthernview.com]
B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context [clearwatertimes.com]
B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context [comoxvalleyrecord.com]
B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context - Abbotsford News [abbynews.com]
B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context [peacearchnews.com]
B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context - Cranbrook Daily Townsman [cranbrooktownsman.com]
B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context [aldergrovestar.com]
B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context - Parksville Qualicum News [pqbnews.com]
B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context - Port Alberni Valley News [albernivalleynews.com]
B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context [trailtimes.ca]
First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context: Juan de Fuca-Malahat candidate - Victoria News [vicnews.com]
B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context [100milefreepress.net]
B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context [thefreepress.ca]
B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context [mapleridgenews.com]
B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context [cloverdalereporter.com]
B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context - Tofino/Ucluelet Westerly News [westerlynews.ca]
B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context [campbellrivermirror.com]
First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context: Juan de Fuca-Malahat candidate [sookenewsmirror.com]
B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context [revelstokereview.com]
First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context: Juan de Fuca-Malahat candidate [saanichnews.com]
B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context [pentictonwesternnews.com]
B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context - Chilliwack Progress [theprogress.com]
B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context - Vanderhoof Omineca Express [ominecaexpress.com]
B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context [crestonvalleyadvance.ca]
B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context [langleyadvancetimes.com]
B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context - Surrey Now-Leader [surreynowleader.com]
B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context [terracestandard.com]
B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context - The Ashcroft-Cache Creek Journal [ashcroftcachecreekjournal.com]
B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context [vernonmorningstar.com]
B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context - Salmon Arm Observer [saobserver.net]
B.C. Conservative candidate says First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context [missioncityrecord.com]
First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context: Juan de Fuca-Malahat candidate [peninsulanewsreview.com]
First Nations 'conquered' comment taken out of context: Juan de Fuca-Malahat candidate - Goldstream News Gazette [goldstreamgazette.com]
'First Nations have to be conquered' comment by South Island Conservative candidate draws criticism [cheknews.ca]