Northern Empire Minerals Ltd. ("Empire") and joint venture partners, Stornoway Ventures Ltd. ("Stornoway") and Glencairn Explorations Ltd. ("Glencairn") are pleased to announce that phase 1 of its exploration program has commenced on its Aviat Project on the Melville Peninsula, Nunavut. The Project lies within the North Baffin Diamond District and consists of 22 prospecting permits covering 1.3 million acres in what is emerging as one of Canada's exciting new diamond plays. The Aviat Project exhibits highly prospective indicator mineral chemistry derived from a privately funded regional mineral prospecting program performed in 2001. This year's exploration program entails detailed till sampling and prospecting under the direction of Apex Geoscience of Edmonton, Alberta.

Empire, Stornoway and Glencairn can earn a collective 70% interest in the Aviat North and Aviat South properties by incurring $2,000,000 in exploration expenditures on or before October 1, 2005. Northern Empire and Stornoway will own a 26.66% interest, while Glencairn will own a 16.66% interest in the in the Aviat Project. To earn its respective property interest, Glencairn has agreed to fund $475,000 of the 2002 Aviat exploration program. Empire and Stornoway are responsible for the remaining $1,525,000 of expenditures. Empire and Stornoway have the right to convert Glencairn's interest in Aviat to shares of each respective company on a pro-rata basis at a conversion price of $0.65 per share. Further details of the Aviat option agreement can be obtained from Northern Empire press release 02-06 dated February 5, 2002.

In addition the finder's fee payable to Siwash Holdings Ltd. has been amended to consist of 36,538 shares of Northern Empire. These changes have been made to comply with TSX Venture Exchange policy 5.1.

Northern Empire Minerals Ltd. is a well-funded diamond exploration company with an aggressive acquisition and development philosophy. The Company has established itself as one of the premier diamond explorers in Nunavut. Northern Empire's property interests now total more than 3.0 million acres with properties in the Coronation Diamond District, the Melville Peninsula and in the Otish Mountains Region of Quebec.

On behalf of the Board,

NORTHERN EMPIRE MINERALS LTD.

"John E. Robins"                                   

John E. Robins, P. Geo.
President
 
 
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