Cumberland Resources (CLG)

[Ed Monton]

News

NEWS RELEASE TRANSMITTED BY CCNMatthews



FOR: CUMBERLAND RESOURCES LTD.

TSX SYMBOL: CBD

APRIL 9, 2003 - 15:32 EST

Cumberland Resources Ltd.: Meadowbank Gold Project;
Resource Growth Continues-2003 Drill Program Commences,
Mine Development Permitting Initiated

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--CUMBERLAND RESOURCES LTD. (CBD-TSX)
announces today that large drilling programs are now underway as
the Company initiates the field component of its $10.5 million
2003 work program for the 100% owned Meadowbank Gold Project,
located 70 kilometres north of Baker Lake, Nunavut.

A total of four drill rigs are scheduled to complete the Phase 1
program consisting of approximately 12,000 metres of drilling.
Three drill rigs will focus on deposit definition and further
exploration in the vicinity of the six known gold deposits at
Meadowbank. A fourth drill rig will concentrate on an overburden
drilling program to detect further exploration targets to the
northeast of the Vault deposit.

Resource evaluations, incorporating the results from 2002 drill
programs at the Vault deposit and the new PDF deposit, have now
been completed. Further resource estimation of the Connector and
North Portage deposit are underway.

 
  
 Vault Deposit - Q1/2003 Resources 
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
  
 Measured and Indicated  4,534,000 t grading 3.64 g/t    531,008 oz. gold 
 Inferred                5,479,000 t grading 3.52 g/t    620,062 oz. gold 
  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
  
 

"Vault is an integral part of the early stage mine plan for
Meadowbank. We are very pleased to see conversion of
approximately 50% of the resource into the combined measured and
indicated category and a 20% increase in net ounces." remarked
Kerry Curtis, President and CEO. "We are well underway towards
achieving the 10 year mine life target for the project."

At the PDF deposit an inferred level resource has been assigned:

 
  
 PDF Deposit - Q1/2003 Resources 
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
  
 Inferred                  344,000 t grading 5.20 g/t     57,511 oz. gold 
  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
  
 

The PDF deposit is a new discovery in the early stages of
exploration and remains open for expansion. Continued expansion
of the deposit is key focus of the 2003 exploration program.

Meadowbank is host to the third largest undeveloped gold resource
in Canada with six closely spaced, near surface, gold deposits
totaling:

 
  
 Meadowbank Project Resources - Q1/2003 
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
  
 Measured and Indicated 12,309,000 t grading 5.00 g/t  1,978,700 oz. gold 
 Inferred                9,290,000 t grading 4.20 g/t  1,254,500 oz. gold 
  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
  
 

The Company also reports that it recently submitted a Project
Description Report to the Nunavut Impact Review Board (NIRB) to
initiate Nunavut's mine development permitting process. NIRB will
conduct a project screening in consultation with Baker Lake and
other communities, Designated Inuit Organizations, Community Land
and Resource Committees, Hunters and Trappers Organizations,
federal and territorial government departments, and relevant
wildlife management boards. The screening process will determine
the level of review required for the project within the context
of the Nunavut Land Claim Agreement and existing federal
legislation and will supply terms for the Environmental Impact
Study.

A preliminary assessment(1) completed in January 2002 indicated
the Meadowbank project could support a production rate of
approximately 250,000 ounces per year at an estimated cash cost
of $US 168 per ounce over an eight year mine life, with 85% of
production from open pit designs.

Cumberland is well financed with approximately $18.75 million in
its treasury and is currently conducting a bankable feasibility
study on the Meadowbank gold project. Cumberland holds interests
in two of the largest undeveloped gold projects in Canada:
Meadowbank (100%) and Meliadine West (22% carried).

CUMBERLAND RESOURCES LTD.

Kerry M. Curtis, B.Sc., P.Geo., President and CEO

(1) Vault resource parameters

Resource estimates are based on 111 NQ diamond drill holes and a
total of 5901 samples. Samples were assayed at IPL labs in
Vancouver British Columbia utilizing fire assay with AA finish
and fire assay with gravimetric finish on all assays yielding
greater than 1 gram per tonne. QA/QC programs employ random
insertion of four internal standards, field duplicates and blank
samples. Acme Labs of Vancouver provides external reference
assaying. Resource analysis is based on 3 dimensional solid
models generated from geological and assay data. Interpolation is
based on compositing at 1.0 meter down-hole lengths. Inverse
distance to the 2nd power with a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 20
composites to is required to interpolate grade into a block.
Composites were capped at 20g/t. A 2.0 g/t cut-off grade is
applied. James McCrea, P.Geo., Manager, Mineral Resources is the
Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101. Resource
classification conforms to CIM Standards on Mineral Resources and
Reserves (August 2000).

(1) PDF resource parameters

Resource estimates are based on 24 NQ diamond drill holes and a
total of 1024 samples. Samples were assayed at IPL labs in
Vancouver British Columbia utilizing fire assay with AA finish
and fire assay with gravimetric finish on all assays yielding
greater than 1 gram per tonne. QA/QC programs employ random
insertion of four internal standards, field duplicates and blank
samples. Acme Labs of Vancouver provides external reference
assaying. Resource analysis is based on 3 dimensional solid
models generated from geological and assay data. Interpolation is
based on compositing at 0.75 meter down-hole lengths. Inverse
distance to the 2nd power with a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 12
composites to is required to interpolate grade into a block.
Composites were capped at 20g/t. A 2.0 g/t cut-off grade is
applied. James McCrea, P.Geo., Manager, Mineral Resources is the
Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101. Resource
classification conforms to CIM Standards on Mineral Resources and
Reserves (August 2000).

(1) Cautionary Note: The preliminary assessment completed in
January 2002 is preliminary in nature, includes inferred mineral
resources that are considered too speculative geologically to
have the economic considerations applied to them that would
enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves and there is no
certainty that the preliminary assessment will be realized. The
production forecast used in the Preliminary Assessment includes
approximately 5.9 million tonnes of Inferred Mineral Resource, or
41% of the total forecast. In compliance with National Instrument
43-101, the Company has issued a Technical Report which is
available at www.sedar.com for review.

This document contains certain forward looking statements which
involve known and unknown risks, delays, and uncertainties not
under the Corporation's control which may cause actual results,
performance or achievements of the Corporation to be materially
different from the results, performance or expectations implied
by these forward looking statements.

-30-

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Cumberland Resources Ltd.
Kerry Curtis
President and CEO
[phone]
[phone] (FAX)
or
Cumberland Resources Ltd.
Joyce Musial
Manager, Investor Relations
[phone]
[phone] (FAX)
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.cumberlandresources.com