6-K

FORM 6-K

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rules 13a-16 or 15d-16
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the month of January

Commission File Number  001-31969

Cumberland Resources Ltd.
(Translation of registrant's name into English)

950 - 505 Burrard Street, Box 72, One Bentall Centre, Vancouver, B.C., Canada, V7X 1M4
(Address of principal executive offices)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

Form 20-F....[    ]..... Form 40-F...[   X   ]...

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): ____

Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted solely to provide an attached annual report to security holders.

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): ____

Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted to furnish a report or other document that the registrant foreign private issuer must furnish and make public under the laws of the jurisdiction in which the registrant is incorporated, domiciled or legally organized (the registrant’s “home country”), or under the rules of the home country exchange on which the registrant’s securities are traded, as long as the report or other document is not a press release, is not required to be and has not been distributed to the registrant’s security holders, and, if discussing a material event, has already been the subject of a Form 6-K submission or other Commission filing on EDGAR.

Indicate by check mark whether by furnishing the information contained in this Form, the registrant is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Yes  [     ]            No  [  X  ]

If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- ________

Exhibits

99.1 News Release 05-01

Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

  Date: January 13, 2004 Cumberland Resources Ltd.


By: /s/ Kerry M. Curtis_ Name: Kerry M. Curtis Title: President & CEO

EX-1

NEWS RELEASE

TSX: CLG; AMEX: CLG

Suite 950 – 505 Burrard Street, Box 72, One Bentall Centre, Vancouver, B.C. Canada V7X 1M4

Tel: 604.608.2557   Fax: 604.608.2559   www.cumberlandresources.com

News Release 05-01

January 13, 2005

Cumberland Submits Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)

to the Nunavut Impact Review Board

CUMBERLAND RESOURCES LTD. (CBD-TSX) announces that the Company’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for development of the Meadowbank gold project has been received by the Nunavut Impact Review Board (NIRB).  The DEIS advances the permitting process at Meadowbank, a proposed open pit operation to be constructed 70 kilometres north of the Hamlet of Baker Lake, Nunavut Territory.

Cumberland is proposing a 12 to 14 year project life at Meadowbank including a 2-year construction period followed by 8 to 10 years of mine operation and a 2-year post-closure period.  Meadowbank is host to the third largest undeveloped gold resource in Canada with six closely-spaced, near surface gold deposits.  A feasibility study is nearing completion and is expected to be completed in the next several months.

“The DEIS summarizes a nine year commitment to environmental baseline studies, community consultation and a careful engineering and design process Cumberland has undertaken at the Meadowbank project.  It is a project that will provide significant, long term economic benefits to the people of Baker Lake, the Kivalliq district and Nunavut as a whole while safeguarding the land, waters and the wildlife,” said Kerry Curtis, Cumberland’s President and CEO.  “Community consultations will be ongoing throughout the upcoming review process and we encourage residents of Baker Lake and the Kivalliq district to contact our community liaison office in Baker Lake with questions or concerns.”

The Meadowbank project is being reviewed under a NIRB Part 5 review as provided under Article 12 of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement and existing Federal legislation.  Following a period of review and initial hearings, Cumberland will prepare a Final EIS document, which will include responses to matters raised through the NIRB review period.

Cumberland is a mineral exploration and development company which holds interests in two undeveloped gold projects in Canada:  Meadowbank (100%) and Meliadine West (22% carried to production).  Cumberland is well financed and is advancing the Meadowbank project to production.  

CUMBERLAND RESOURCES LTD.

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

For further information contact:

Head Office:  Kerry Curtis, President and CEO or Joyce Musial, Manager, Investor Relations

Baker Lake Office:  Michael Haqpi, Community Liaison Officer  Tel: 867.793.4610  Fax: 867.793.4611

Certain statements in this News Release constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation’s Reform Act of 1995.  Such forward looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance of achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.