B.C. and Nisga'a near historic land claim deal

British Columbia says it's close to a final agreement on a historic land claim treaty with the Nisga'a people. It would be the first land claim treaty signed in B.C. in a century.

Premier Glen Clark says details may be completed within days or weeks. He says it's important to reach a deal now more than ever to stop polarization over aboriginal rights issues.

The Nisga'a tribal council signed an agreement in principle with Victoria and Ottawa nearly two years ago. It would give the Nisga'a more than 1,900 square kilometres of land and $190 million.

Outstanding issues include the extent of Nisga'a self-government, as well as so-called certainty language that would extinguish the Nisga'a claim to reopen the deal once it is signed.