Noront Supports First Nations Action at Ring of Fire

TORONTO, January 18 -

    Symbol: NOT:TSX-V
    Shares Outstanding: 165,415,818
    Fully Diluted: 176,782,750

Noront Resources Ltd. ("Noront" or the "Company") (TSX Venture: NOT)
announced today that it supports the actions of the Marten Falls First
Nation ("MFFN") at the Ring of Fire, located in the James Bay Lowlands.
MFFN announced today that they are implementing a logistics halt, which
will deny companies operating in the Ring of Fire access to the ice landing
strip at Kopper Lake. MFFN indicated that this denial of service, which
MFFN undertook with the support of other communities in the area, will be
in place for an indefinite period.

Noront notes that MFFN and other First Nation communities in the area,
have become increasingly concerned by the lack of consultation with their
communities concerning development in the Ring of Fire and a disregard for
their environment.

Noront notes that it has been its policy from the beginning to
actively work with and communicate with the First Nations communities
impacted by the Company's exploration activity in the Ring of Fire. Noront
has been actively canvassing the local First Nations communities and the
provincial government to initiate round table negotiations between industry
First Nations leaders and provincial government ministries to establish a
long term, viable development plan that brings the maximum benefit to the
most people in this exciting mineral district.

Noront's CEO, Wes Hanson states: "We are very concerned that our
community partners feel that their only recourse is to deny logistical
access to the ice strip at Kopper Lake to all companies in the Ring of Fire.
It is our understanding that the events that precipitated this denial of
service were not due to any specific action on the part of Noront, however,
as the only exploration company currently active in the Ring of Fire,
Noront is inconvenienced by this action. Noront has respected and honoured
MFFN by signing an agreement compensating them for exploration work we've
completed on their traditional lands. We have undertaken several
initiatives regarding education and youth within the MFFN community and we
remain committed to building a strong and stable relationship in the future.
We are therefore not, at this time, taking any action to limit the
protest. We will adjust our exploration effort accordingly and we do not
believe that this action will limit or otherwise disrupt our development
plans at McFauld's Lake. The denial of service, to our knowledge, does not
limit our ability to continue active work programs in the area. We remain
committed to maintaining a close working relationship with MFFN and the
other communities in the Ring of Fire. I have contacted Chief Moonias to
advise him that while we consider the denial of service at Kopper Lake to
be unfair to Noront, we will abide by the denial of service."

About Noront

Noront Resources Ltd. is focused on its significant and multiple, high-
grade nickel-copper-platinum-palladium, chromite, gold and vanadium
discoveries in an area known as the "Ring of Fire", an emerging multi-
metals district located in the James Bay Lowlands of Ontario, Canada.
Noront is the dominant land holder at the Ring of Fire and continues to
delineate and prove up its discoveries with NI 43-101 technical and
economic reports and an aggressive and well financed drill plan for 2010.
All material information on Noront can be found on the Company's website at
www.norontresources.com or at SEDAR at www.sedar.com

    Wesley (Wes) Hanson
    President & Chief Executive Officer

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.

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

For further information: Joanne Jobin, Vice President Corporate
Communications at +1-(416)-367-1444, or visit Noront's website at:
www.norontresources.com/

For further information: Joanne Jobin, Vice President Corporate Communications at +1-(416)-367-1444, or visit Noront's website at: www.norontresources.com/