Eagle Plain’s Partner SSR Mining to Commence Drilling at Fisher Gold Project, Saskatchewan by February 2018

Eagle Plain’s Partner SSR Mining to Commence Drilling

at Fisher Gold Project, Saskatchewan by February 2018

Cranbrook, B.C., January 8th, 2018: Eagle Plains (“EPL” or “Eagle Plains” ) is pleased to announce

that option partner SSR Mining Inc. (formerly Silver Standard Resources Inc.) (“SSRM”) (TSX: SSRM)

(NASDAQ: SSRM) is expected to commence its 2018 drilling campaign on Eagle Plain’s 100% -owned

Fisher Property, located in east -central Saskatchewan , by February . SSRM is planning approximately

18,000m (59,000’) of drilling for the property during 2018 , with 10,000m (33,000’) scheduled to

commence immediately and continue throughout the winter months . SSRM is in the second year of a

four-year option agreement whereby SSRM may earn up to an 80% interest in the 34,000 ha property by

completing $4M in exploration expenditures and making $3.3M in cash payments to EPL ( see details

below-all figures in Cana dian dollars ). SSRM expenditures to date on the project are approximately

$1.5M. The Fisher Project is contiguous to the north , south and east with SSRM’s Seabee Gold

Operation.

See Fisher area location map here:

During 2017, SSRM conducted detailed e xploration activity including 1:10,000 scale geologic mapping,

571 grid till/soil samples, 276 till samples and widespread prospecting and rock sampling activity.

Fieldwork was follow ed-up in the fall with a detailed UAV aeromagnetic survey. Results were

encouraging, with numerous areas of elevated gold in soils documented w ithin Fisher property

boundaries. SSRM geologists have traced the extension of the Santoy shear structure southward from the

Santoy deposit (currently in production) over 7km within Fis her property boundaries, noting visible gold

mineralization in two areas. Three areas have been targeted for winter drilling.

Forest fire activity in the area during 2017 did not significantly hamper exploration activity, but provided

the unintended benefit of burning off significant areas of overburden cover, greatly enhancing outcrop

exposure over broad areas of interest.

The 2017-2018 exploration programs are designed to target a Mineral Resource discovery on the Fisher

property. To achieve this o bjective, the SSRM exploration team is expected to focus on improving and

refining the geological and structural framework of the Fisher property, further evaluating and test ing

historical mineral occurrences and identifying additional mineralization in a setting similar to the Seabee

Gold Operation.

The Seabee Gold Operation has been in continuous production since 1991 and has produced

approximately 1.2M ounces of gold from the Seabee and Santoy deposits. As reported by SSR Mining in

its news release dated September 7th , 2017, as at December 31, 2016, the Seabee Gold Operation

includes the following estimated Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources: Proven and Probable

Reserves of 1.37Mt at an average gold grade of 8.19 g/t Au; Meas ured and Indicated Resources

(inclusive of Mineral Reserves) of 2.07Mt at an average grade of 8.02 g/t Au; and Inferred Resources of

2.50Mt at a grade of 7.66 g/t Au. SSRM earlier reported uncut drill intercepts grading up to 1,004 g/t

gold over 1.6m including 3,887 g/t gold over 0.4m (true widths) at its Santoy Gap deposit, located

approximately 3km north west of the Fisher property boundary ( see SSRM news release dated May 1,

2017). Management cautions that past results or discoveries on proximate land are not necessarily

indicative of the results that may be achieved on the subject properties.

Ore geology at the Seabee Gold Operation consists of high-grade vein mineralization associated with

shear zones that transect mafic meta -volcanic and intrusive rocks, as well as granitic rocks emplaced

during the regional deformation events impacting the Pine Lake greenstone belt during the Proterozoic .

The Seabee Gold Operation and the Fisher Project occur within the Pine Lake greenstone belt.

Mineralization at the Seabee Gold Operation occurs at the Seabee and Santoy mines, which are located

approximately 14kms apart. The former is affiliated with the more westerly -oriented Laonil Lake shear

zone, while the latter is hosted on a regional north-trending shear zone that has been traced over much of

the Fisher property. Field and underground observations at the Seabee Gold Operation suggest that shear

structures nucleated at contacts between granodiorite and meta -volcanic lithologies, with high -grade

zones forming at minor flexures.

Details of the Fisher Option Agreement

To earn a 60% interest over four years, SSR Mining paid $100,000 to Eagle Plains on signing of the

option agreement, has agreed to complete $4,000,000 in exploration expenditures and make annual cash

payments of $75,000 for each of the four years of the option period . SSRM has now made the first

annual cash payment of $75,000 and funded the $400,000 exploration program completed by Eagle

Plains in 2016 (see news releases dated July 18, 2016 and September 12, 2016), which is included in the

$4,000,000 exploration expenditures. Once the 60% earn -in has been completed, SSRM has a 90 -day,

one-time option to earn an additional 20% interest (for a total of 80%) by making a cash payment of

$3,000,000 to Eagle Plains, at which time an 80/20 joint venture will be formed to further advance the

property. Eagle Plains will retain a 2.5% Net Smelter Return (“NSR”), subject to reduction on certain

claims by underlying NSR agreements. Eagle Plains’ NSR may be re duced by 1% at any time upon

payment of $1,000,000 by the joint venture. In addition, Eagle Plains will receive advance royalty

payments of $100,000 annually from the joint venture until commencement of commercial production.

Proposed Plan of Arrangement-Taiga Gold Corp.

As announced on October 23 rd, 2017, Eagle Plains intends to spin -out specific Saskatchewan gold

exploration properties in the Seabee/Santoy area , including the Fisher Project, to a new publicly -listed

entity named Taiga Gold Corp. through a plan of arrangement expected to be completed in early 2018.

A map showing the location of Taiga projects may be found here:

Charles C. Downie, P.Geo., a “qualified person” for the purposes of National Instrument 43 -101 -

Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has prepared, reviewed, and approved the scientific and

technical disclosure in the news release.

About Eagle Plains Resources

Based in Cranbrook, B.C., Eagle Plains continues to conduct research, acquire and explore mineral

projects throughout western Canada. EPL is committed to steadily enhancing shareholder value by

advancing our diverse portfolio of projects toward discovery t hrough collaborative partnerships and

development of a highly experienced technical team. Managements’ current focus is to preserve its

treasury while advancing its most promising exploration projects. In addition, Eagle Plains continues to

seek out and se cure high -quality, unencumbered projects through research, staking and strategic

acquisitions. Since 2012, Eagle Plains has added to its portfolio a number of new projects exceeding

130,000 ha targeting mainly gold, uranium and base-metals in Saskatchewan, a highly-prospective mining

jurisdiction which was recently recognized by the Fraser Institute as the second best place in the world in

terms of Investment Attractiveness. Throughout the exploration process, our mission is to help maintain

prosperous communities by exploring for and discovering resource opportunities while building lasting

relationships through honest and respectful business practices.

Expenditures from 2011 -2017 on Eagle Plains -related projects were approximately $16.5M, which was

funded by Eagle Plains and for the most part, by third -party partners. This exploration work resulted in

approximately 15,000 m of diamond-drilling and extensive ground-based exploration work facilitating the

advancement of numerous projects at various stages of development.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

“Tim J. Termuende”

President and CEO

For further information on EPL, please contact Mike Labach at

1 866 HUNT ORE (486 8673)

Email: [email protected] or visit our website at http://www.eagleplains.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Neither the 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. This news release may contain forward-looking statements including but

not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles,

potential mineral recovery processes, etc. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore, involve inherent

risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements.