American International Ventures Makes Announcement.

Business Editors

RENO, Nev.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 5, 2003

American International Ventures Inc. (OTC: AIVN) (the Company) is pleased to announce it has entered into a binding Letter Agreement for the acquisition of the Wilson - Independence Gold/Silver Mine in Lander County, Nevada. The property is located in the Antler Peak Mining District, roughly 20 miles south of the town of Battle Mountain, Nevada.

The Property is situated on the prolific Battle Mountain - Eureka Mineral Trend, roughly 4,000 feet south of the famed Fortitude / Phoenix Deposit (past production plus existing reserves of over 4 million ounces of gold). Mineralization at the Wilson Independence consists of two principle targets, termed "Independence Surface" and "Wilson Deep". At this time the primary interest is in the Deep target, where, as quoted in the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Special Publication MI - 1997, "prior exploration has identified a resource of over 800,000 ounces of gold." (DMR 12-17-97; Consolidated North Coast Industries Ltd., press release, 12-09-97) Due to more recent drilling results, AIVN management believes the present resource may be substantially larger. As a result, during its Due Dilignece process, AIVN plans to secure independent verification of the mineral resource for the Wilson Deep.

This acquisition is the most recent under AIVN's new mandate to acquire properties that contain significant, existing, drilled gold resources. Combined with AIVN's Bruner property, this acquisition brings the company's present gold resources to 1.3 million ounces. Under the direction of the new management team, AIVN is taking advantage of what it believes is the beginnings of a paradigm shift in the gold market that will, in the near future, result in a steady, significant rise in the price of gold. AIVN's goal is to gain control of 8 million to 10 million ounces of gold in existing resources. It is AIVN's belief that this will substantially mitigate the inherent risk in gold exploration and, allowing a strong rise in gold price, these resources may be developed into producing mines. AIVN's present strategy is to acquire gold resource properties and to vend them to gold producers as the gold price approaches the individual property's economic threshold. AIVN, to limit risk, has no intention of becoming a gold producer at this time. However, should a full fledged primary bull market in gold evolve, AIVN may decide to gain control over selected highly prospective exploration properties, where there is a high probability of identifying gold resources. AIVN's immediate plans are to confirm and analyze the Wilson - Independence resource at various gold prices and to continue it's aggressive acquisition program.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This news release contains certain forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, including without limitation statements regarding potential mineralization, resources and reserves, and development results, and the future plans and objectives of American International Ventures while forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate in actual results of future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from American International Ventures expectations.