North American Nickel Inc.: 2017 Maniitsoq Exploration Program Underway

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - June 20, 2017) - North American Nickel Inc. (TSX VENTURE:NAN)(OTCBB:WSCRF) (CUSIP: 65704T 108) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that the 2017 exploration program has commenced at its 100% owned Maniitsoq nickel-copper-cobalt-PGM project in Southwest Greenland.

The Company is undertaking the third year of a focussed three-year strategy to advance the Maniitsoq Project. The primary exploration objective in 2017 is to carry out step-out drilling at three key locations, the Imiak Hill Complex (IHC), Fossilik and P-013SE, in order to advance one or more areas to delineation drilling stage for 2018 (Figure 1). Concurrently, the Company will be carrying out infrastructure-related and environmental baseline studies and advancing the project's social license through on-going corporate social responsibility initiatives.

NAN CEO, Keith Morrison, commented: "The results from the 2016 drilling campaign were successful in allowing NAN to progress to this next stage of follow-up drilling to continue to evaluate size potential at Maniitsoq. The goal of the 2017 work program is to advance the project to a delineation and resource estimate stage by 2018 and to continue to lay the ground work for critical infrastructure needed for future resource development."

The 2017 exploration program will comprise approximately 11,000 metres of diamond drilling, borehole electromagnetic (BHEM) surveys, surface Induced Polarization ("IP") geophysical surveys, mapping, prospecting, sampling, structural geological studies and 3D modeling. A key component of program implementation will be the 3D integration and modeling of all exploration data in order to optimize drill hole targeting and develop new drilling targets within prospective norite stratigraphy. 

The three areas selected for drilling in 2017 are a culmination of the exploration work carried out in 2015 and 2016. Fossilik and the IHC each represent areas where one or more discrete and open sulphide lenses and multiple untested exploration targets have been defined. P-013 SE represents a new discovery of high grade nickel sulphide mineralization which has only been tested with one drill hole to date. In particular, step-out drilling will be carried out to follow-up significant sulphide mineralization intersected in 2016 at the following zones (see News Releases dated October 12, 2016; October 26, 2016; October 31, 2016; and November 16, 2016):

The Company's exploration base camp on Puiattoq Bay was re-opened in late May and early June. Equipment and work crews have mobilized to site and drilling is now underway with two drill rigs. A third drill rig was also mobilized to site and is expected to begin operation in late July. The field program is estimated to extend to mid-September.

Surveys in support of an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment are ongoing and a requirement for an Exploitation Licence for the Maniitsoq property, will commence in June in the areas of active exploration. This will include the recently acquired watershed 06.H currently being assessed for the potential to develop a hydropower resource consistent with the emphasis by the Greenland Government on securing environmentally friendly energy sources for any industrial development, including mining (see News Release dated March 29, 2017).

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 2,985 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 accessible from the existing Seqi deep water port (See NAN News Release dated January 19, 2015) with an all year round shipping season and abundant hydro-electric potential.

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.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" under applicable securities laws concerning the business, operations and financial performance and condition of the Company. Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the success of exploration activities; impact of mineralogy, estimation of mineral resources at mineral projects of the Company; the future economics of minerals including nickel and copper; synergies and financial impact facilities; the benefits of the development potential of the properties of the Company and currency exchange rate fluctuations. Except for statements of historical fact relating to the Company, certain information contained herein constitutes forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan," "expect," "project," "intend," "believe," "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, and are based on a number of assumptions and subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Many of these assumptions are based on factors and events that are not within the control of the Company and there is no assurance they will prove to be correct.

Factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from results anticipated by such forward-looking statements include variations in metal grades, changes in market conditions, variations in recovery rates, risks relating to international operations, fluctuating metal prices and currency exchange rates, and other risks of the mining industry, including but not limited to the failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated. The Company cautions that the foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive. Investors and others who base themselves on forward-looking statements should carefully consider the above factors as well as the uncertainties they represent and the risk they entail. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this press release should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. Statements concerning mineral reserve and resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute forward-looking statements to the extent they involve estimates of the mineralization that will be encountered if the property is developed.

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. For further information on the project, please see National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101) technical report prepared by SRK Consulting (Canada) Inc. (SRK) dated effective March 24^th, 2016, titled "Independent Technical Report for the Maniitsoq Nickel-Copper-PGM Project, Greenland", available under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com or at www.northamericannickel.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Mark Fedikow, President, 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.

To view Figure 1, please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/nan0620fig1.pdf.

Contact

North American Nickel Inc.
Jaclyn Ruptash
Corporate Communications
(604) 770-4334 or Toll Free: 1-866-816-0118
www.northamericannickel.com