VANCOUVER (Reuters) - Negotiators in British Columbia agreed on Wednesday on a historic rights treaty with the Nisga`a Indian Nation, a deal expected help resolve other Indian land disputes in the western Canadian province. Representatives from Canada, British Columbia and the Nisga`a shook hands at a hotel in Terrace, British Columbia, bringing to an end negotiations that began more than 20 years ago. An emotional Nisga`a chief Joe Gosnel emerged late on Wednesday afternoon from the final marathon day of bargaining, announced a deal had been struck and told reporters he felt "absolutely fantastic." The agreement, which will be formally initialed in a ceremony at the Nisga`a headquarters in New Aiyansh later this month, is the first land rights treaty for an Indian tribe in British Columbia this century. It will then have to ratified by the Nisga`a, which has about 6,000 members, Canada`s Parliament and the British Columbia legislature - a process that could take up to a year to complete. The agreement has opponents. The Gitanyow Nation has filed lawsuits charging they will lose their historic lands. The leader of the opposition B.C. Liberal Party said on Wednesday he has concerns the province was giving away too much. The treaty gives the Nisga`a C$190 million plus C$30 million negotiation expenses, and cedes them 1,930 sq km of the Nass River Valley. It also settles issues such as judicial authority on tribal lands. The Nisga`a, just under half of whom live in the Nass River area not far from the Alaska panhandle, formally petitioned to regain their lands in 1913. Negotiations began nearly 25 years ago. Canada and British Columbia are now negotiating land claims with more than 40 Indian councils and nations, and British Columbia Premier Glen Clark described the Nisga`a treaty as a "template" for the other talks. The disputes have caused uncertainty in resource-rich British Columbia, with timber and mining companies worried about new fees and restrictions for using land now owned and controlled by the province.