North American Nickel Updates SkyTEM Survey on its Maniitsoq Project, Greenland

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwire - Oct. 17, 2011) - North American Nickel Inc. (TSX VENTURE:NAN) (OTCBB:WSCRF) (CUSIP:65704T 108) ("NAN") is pleased to provide an update on the SkyTEM survey on its Greenland property.

The SkyTEM system arrived in Maniitsoq on September 15, flying commenced on September 17 and the survey was completed on October 6. In all, a total of 2,217 line-kilometers of electromagnetic and magnetic surveying was done over two flight blocks. Condor Consulting, recognized experts in the field of airborne electromagnetics, provided daily QA/QC of the data.

Examination of the preliminary data indicates it is of good quality and that the helicopter was able to hug the terrain despite the rugged topography. A final, levelled dataset and initial interpretation is expected from SkyTEM within 7 to 8 weeks. It will be merged with NAN's existing exploration database for Maniitsoq and thoroughly analyzed for conductive nickel sulphide targets. Selected high priority targets will be modeled in three dimensions to bring them to drill readiness.

As outlined in a NAN news release dated September 12, 2011, the Maniitsoq property is located in south-western Greenland and hosts numerous high-grade nickel-copper sulphide occurrences associated with noritic intrusions. The areas covered by the current survey were flown with the fixed wing GeoTEM system in 1995, but very few EM anomalies were detected. NAN believes that the SkyTEM system is much better suited to locating anomalies associated with irregularly shaped nickel-copper sulphide bodies in the rugged terrain that characterizes the Maniitsoq project.


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 and President and Chief Operating Officer, North American Nickel Inc.


About North American Nickel

North American Nickel is a mineral exploration company with 100% owned properties in Sudbury, Ontario, Maniitsoq, Greenland and the Thompson, Manitoba mining camp. The Company's initial focus is on two Sudbury, Ontario properties and its Greenland project.

The Post Creek/Halycon property in Sudbury is strategically located adjacent to the producing Podolsky copper-nickel-platinum group metal deposit of Quadra FNX Mining. The property lies along the extension of the Whistle Offset dyke structure, which is a major geological control for Ni-Cu-PGM mineralization.

The Bell Lake property in Sudbury is a 256-acre property that covers approximately one kilometre of the Mystery Offset dyke or MOD. The MOD is interpreted to be an extension of the Worthington Offset dyke which is a 10 to 11 kilometre-long mineralized structure that extends from the southwest margin of the Sudbury igneous complex.

North American Nickel also controls a 4,841 square km Mineral Exploration Licence in southwest Greenland with exclusive mineral exploration rights. The principal target is high-grade nickel-copper occurrences associated with norite and other mafic and ultramafic intrusions.

The Company has also acquired 100% ownership in the high-grade Ni-Cu-PGE South Bay property near Thompson, Manitoba and the large grassroots Thompson North and Cedar Lake properties, which are part of the world-class Thompson Nickel Belt in Manitoba. North American Nickel Inc. is a member of the North Shore Mining Group.


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.

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.



Contact Information

North American Nickel Inc.
Rick Mark
CEO and Chair
604-986-2020 or Toll free: 1-866-816-0118
www.northamericannickel.com