North American Nickel Reports Assays of 2.98% Ni, 0.59% Cu & 0.86 g/t PGM Over 8.55 Metres at Spotty Hill

Near Surface Zone of High Grade Nickel Intersected

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Oct 20, 2014) - North American Nickel Inc. (TSX VENTURE:NAN)(OTCBB:WSCRF)(CUSIP:65704T 108) (the "Company") is pleased to report new assays from the Spotty Hill prospect. These assays include a previously unknown zone of semi-massive to massive nickel sulphides within a broader zone of disseminated nickel sulphides hosted within a norite. Spotty Hill is part of the Imiak Hill Complex ("IHC") located in the central section of the Company's 100% owned Maniitsoq Nickel - Copper - Cobalt and PGM project in southwest Greenland.

Results for three IHC holes and one regional hole are reported in this release. Highlights include:

• MQ-14-062 (Spotty Hill): 8.55 metres of 2.98% Ni, 0.59% Cu, 0.10% Co and 0.86 g/t Pt+Pd+Au of semi massive to massive nickel sulphides within a broader disseminated zone of 0.61% Ni and 0.16% Cu over 66 metres.
• MQ-14-065 (Spotty Hill): 10.6 metres of 1.69% Ni, 0.34% Cu, 0.05% Co and 0.50 g/t Pt+Pd+Au of semi massive nickel sulphides within a broader disseminated zone of 0.59% Ni and 0.16% Cu over 73.49 metres.

NAN President and Interim CEO, Mark Fedikow, commented: "This confirmation of multiple high grade semi-massive to massive nickel sulphide intersections at Spotty Hill, which also contain appreciable values of copper, cobalt and precious metals, is very encouraging and enhances the potential of the much larger disseminated sulphide zone. The electromagnetic conductors associated with these near surface intersections of semi-massive to massive nickel sulphides are open and have a strong potential to be further extended at depth. We look forward to drilling them in 2015.

Additionally, we look forward to the future assays results from the regional targets: P-013, P-030 and P-053 and additional drilling at Imiak Hill and Mikissoq where drilling in 2014 intersected heavily disseminated to massive sulphides."

IMIAK HILL COMPLEX (IHC)

A total of seventeen holes and one deepened hole, totalling 5,048 metres, were completed to test for extensions of the mineralization intersected in previous drilling at Imiak Hill, Mikissoq and Spotty Hill. Assay results for two Spotty Hill holes and one Mikissoq hole are reported below and provided in Tables 1 and 2 and Figures 1 and 2. Figures may be viewed using the link provided with this release. Assays are pending for three IHC holes including two from Imiak Hill and one from Mikissoq which are located 1.5km west and 1.2km northwest of Spotty Hill respectively.

Spotty Hill

The Spotty Hill sulphide zone consists of an approximately 75 metre wide, sub-vertical and steeply plunging zone of norite-hosted disseminated sulphides containing internal zones of semi-massive sulphides. The zone has been tested over a plunge extent of 160 metres and is open down plunge to the southeast (see Figure 2). Wide zones of weakly disseminated sulphides typically grading between 0.1 and 0.2% Ni occur in both the hanging wall and the footwall of the main zone.

The sulphide zone correlates well with the borehole EM results obtained to date. Modeling of the borehole EM data indicates the presence of two narrow, parallel, steeply plunging, moderately to strongly conductive trends which, where drill tested, are represented by semi-massive sulphides. These two conductive trends are located within or immediately adjacent to a large low conductance anomaly which correlates with the main zone of disseminated mineralization. Further drilling is required to determine the full extents of the Spotty Hill zone as well as the extents of the internal semi-massive sulphide zones.

MQ-14-062 was drilled to test a high conductance borehole EM (BHEM) anomaly located up plunge from hole MQ-12-005 and intersected a wide zone of disseminated sulphides grading 0.61% Ni, 0.16% Cu and 0.22 g/t Pt+Pd+Au over 66 metres from 17.4 to 83.40 metres. Included within this zone was an 8.55 metre interval of semi-massive sulphides grading 2.98% Ni, 0.59% Cu, 0.1% Co and 0.86 g/t Pt+Pd+Au from 62.65 to 71.20 metres. A zone of weakly mineralized norite containing disseminated sulphides occurs downhole of the main zone and grades 0.16% Ni over 60 metres from 95 to 155 metres.

MQ-14-065 was drilled to test the central portion of the Spotty Hill zone as well as the down plunge extent of the BHEM anomaly targeted by hole MQ-14-062 and returned similar results. MQ-14-065 intersected a wide zone of disseminated sulphides grading 0.59% Ni, 0.16% Cu and 0.22 g/t Pt+Pd+Au over 73.49 metres from 37.8 to 111.29 metres. Included within this zone was a 10.6 metre interval of semi-massive sulphides grading 1.69% Ni, 0.34% Cu, 0.05% Co and 0.50 g/t Pt+Pd+Au from 79.5 to 90.1 metres.

Two additional zones of disseminated sulphides returned values of 0.44% Ni, 0.12% Cu and 0.17 g/t Pt+Pd+Au over 8.05 metres from 124.6 to 132.65 metres and 0.68% Ni, 0.12% Cu and 0.24 g/t Pt+Pd+Au over 13.4 metres from 144.9 to 159.3 metres. All of the preceding mineralization is flanked uphole and downhole by intervals of weakly disseminated sulphides (see Table 1).

Mikissoq

Assay results were received for one hole, MQ-14-063, completed at Mikissoq. MQ-14-063 intersected orthogneisses cross-cut by two intervals of mylonite but did not intersect the mineralized Mikissoq norite body which is now interpreted to plunge steeply to the northeast. The deeper mylonite zone in MQ-14-063 contained a narrow interval of fine grained nickeliferous sulphides which returned values of 0.82% Ni and 0.23% Cu over 0.13 metres from 142.82 to 142.95 meters. These sulphides are interpreted to be structurally displaced from the nearby Mikissoq sulphide zone.

REGIONAL EXPLORATION TARGETS

Twenty-two holes totaling 3,725 metres were completed to test fourteen regional targets located throughout the Maniitsoq property. Table 2 gives the location of hole MQ-14-064 which was drilled to test a VTEM anomaly at target P-048. This hole intersected a locally magnetic diabase dyke cutting orthogneisses. No significant mineralization was intersected and no assay samples were taken.

Assay results are pending for five regional holes including four which intersected norite-hosted nickel sulphide mineralization at the P-013, P-030 and P-053 targets.

Quality Control

Drill core assay results are evaluated as part of a Quality Assurance and Quality Control procedure that includes the use of matrix matched multi-element, certified standards with known precious and base metal values and blank standards to determine accuracy and precision of analytical results. Core sample analysis was completed by SGS Laboratories of Vancouver, Canada. Three methods of analysis were used to determine element concentrations in the rock samples submitted to SGS. These were 1. A multi-element scan subsequent to a four-acid digestion and ICP/ICP-AES finish; 2. Au, Pt and Pd lead fire assay on a 30 gram sample with ICP-AES finish; and 3. Samples with >1.00% Ni or Cu were re-analyzed by Sodium Peroxide Fusion ICP-AES calibrated for ore grade detection limits.

Qualified Person

All technical information in this release has been reviewed by Dr. Mark Fedikow, P.Geo, who is the Qualified Person for the Company, President and Interim CEO, North American Nickel Inc.

About North American Nickel

North American Nickel is a mineral exploration company with 100% owned properties in Maniitsoq, Greenland and Sudbury, Ontario.

The Maniitsoq property in Greenland is a Camp scale project comprising 3,601 square km covering numerous high-grade nickel-copper sulphide occurrences associated with norite and other mafic-ultramafic intrusions of the Greenland Norite Belt (GNB). The >75km-long belt is situated along, and near, the southwest coast of Greenland, which is pack ice free year round.

The Post Creek/Halcyon property in Sudbury is strategically located adjacent to the past producing Podolsky copper-nickel-platinum group metal deposit of KGHM International Ltd. The property lies along the extension of the Whistle Offset dyke structure. Such geological structures host major Ni-Cu-PGM deposits and producing mines within the Sudbury Camp.

Statements about the Company's future expectations and all other statements in this press release other than historical facts are "forward looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and as that term defined in the Private Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company intends that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbours created thereby. Since these statements involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change at any time, the Company's actual results may differ materially from the expected results.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

John Roozendaal, Director

North American Nickel Inc.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Table 1 Assay Results

Table 2: Drill Collar Information

To view the figures accompanying this press release please click the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/NANFigs1021.pdf