TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - March 4, 2013) - Matawa First Nations Management's Kiikenomaga Kikenjigewen Employment and Training Services (KKETS), Noront Resources Ltd. (TSX VENTURE:NOT) and Confederation College of Applied Arts and Technology formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding today at the Aboriginal Forum Reception at the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) annual convention and mining investment show.

This agreement reinforces a commitment to work collaboratively to expand opportunities for the development of a highly skilled aboriginal workforce for mining activity associated with the Eagles Nest project of Noront Resources Ltd. in the Ring of Fire.

KKETS program manager Morris Wapoose said he's looking forward to getting more training programs underway. "The Ring of Fire Training Alliance will strengthen KKETS' capacity and enhance the programs and services we provide to our First Nations peoples of the land by advancing their skills and employability to get meaningful jobs in the growing resources sector. KKETS as the leading employment and training organization for the Matawa communities will be positioned to better match skills development and programming with the needs of employers in the mining sector, especially in the Ring of Fire", said Mr. Wapoose.

"KKETS specializes in labour market development and our First Nations youth are the fastest-growing demographic and with that we can't afford to have youth not contributing to Canada's economy in a successful way. We can take our learners from where they are at, to where they want to be by providing them with the required education, skills and training that will assist them in achieving their education and employment goals for long term sustainability and prosperity", added Matawa First Nations Management CEO, David Paul Achneepineskum.

Northwestern Ontario is on the cusp of significant socio-economic development that will have profound long-term benefits for Aboriginal communities. The development of mining infrastructure will provide employment for a hundred years spanning many sectors.

A key objective of the Alliance is to provide training to employment opportunities to support participants in the nine Matawa communities. This will be met by providing long-term, sustainable career pathways in the mineral and mining sectors or other resource related areas associated with the Ring of Fire.

Noront Resources Ltd. is the industry partner committed to creating opportunities that will enable the Matawa First Nations people to participate in all aspects of the mining operation on their Eagles Nest nickel, copper, platinum and palladium deposit.

"Noront Resources Ltd. is very proud to form this historic partnership of the Ring of Fire Training Alliance between the Matawa First Nations', Kiikenomaga Kikenjigewen Employment and Training Services (KKETS) and Confederation College of Applied Arts and Technology. The Ring of Fire Aboriginal Training Alliance is the necessary first step in developing a local Aboriginal workforce that will enable the Matawa First Nations to participate fully in widespread economic development and meaningful, long term sustainable employment at our Eagles Nest mining operation, today and for tomorrow," said Leanne Hall, Vice President Human Resources, Noront Resources Ltd.

Education and training can unlock the opportunity for Aboriginal citizens who are living on and around the Ring of Fire. Confederation College is the education partner and will provide access to programming and prepare students to reach the highest standards of education and training to meet the needs of the industry.

"The Ring of Fire Aboriginal Training Alliance is an innovative approach that provides a comprehensive long-term strategy to meet the education to employment needs of the mining industry," said Jim Madder, President of Confederation College. "We are pleased to be a partner with Matawa First Nations through KKETS and Noront Resources Ltd.," added Madder.

The Memorandum of Understanding will remain in place for a minimum period of five years.

Matawa First Nation Management (MFNM): MFNM is a non-profit corporation and Tribal Council that provides advisory services to its nine member First Nations. The Nine Member First Nations of MFNM: Remote (accessible by air or winter ice road) - Eabametoong First Nation, Neskantaga First Nation, Marten Falls First Nation, Nibinamik First Nation, Webequie First Nations. Road Access (accessible by provincial highways and roads) - Constance Lake First Nation, Aroland First Nation, Long Lake # 58 First Nation, Ginoogaming First Nation.

Noront Resources Ltd. is focused on development of the high-grade Eagle's Nest nickel, copper, platinum and palladium deposit and the high-grade Blackbird chromite deposit, both of which are located in the James Bay lowlands of Ontario in an emerging metals camp known as the Ring of Fire.

Confederation College has been serving the citizens of northwestern Ontario since 1967 meeting the educational needs of students in a catchment area of some 550,000 square kilometres. Along with its main campus in Thunder Bay, Confederation College has eight regional sites located in Dryden, Fort Frances, Geraldton, Kenora, Marathon, Sioux Lookout, Red Lake and Wawa.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation, including predictions, projections and forecasts. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including such things as future business strategy, competitive strengths, goals, expansion, growth of the Company's businesses, operations, plans and with respect to exploration results, the timing and success of exploration activities generally, permitting time lines, government regulation of exploration and mining operations, environmental risks, title disputes or claims, limitations on insurance coverage, timing and possible outcome of any pending litigation and timing and results of future resource estimates or future economic studies.

Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "planning", "planned", "expects" or "looking forward", "does not expect", "continues", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "potential", "anticipates", "does not anticipate", or "belief", or describes a "goal", or variation of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved.

Forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and assumptions, including, the result of drilling and exploration activities, that contracted parties provide goods and/or services on the agreed timeframes, that equipment necessary for exploration is available as scheduled and does not incur unforeseen break downs, that no labour shortages or delays are incurred, that plant and equipment function as specified, that no unusual geological or technical problems occur, and that laboratory and other related services are available and perform as contracted. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, future events, conditions, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, prediction, projection, forecast, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the interpretation and actual results of current exploration activities; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; future prices of gold; possible variations in grade or recovery rates; failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; the failure of contracted parties to perform; labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing or in the completion of exploration, as well as those factors disclosed in the Company's publicly filed documents. Although Noront 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 as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.