Former Yellowknife student recognized for writing in Nevada

A young author who lived Yellowknife is being recognized for his writing in his new home of Elko, Nevada.

Sebastian Bernabe was born in Alaska and moved to Yellowknife when he was four years old.

He became a published author at the age of seven, releasing his first book, The Alaskan Boy Who Explored Bushkids, in 2022. He is also the author of I Wish I Lived in a Library, which is published in French and English.

“I read many books when I was little and my dad and my mom would read me books as well and I would really enjoy them. So I decided to make stories of my own,” Bernabe, who is now 11 years old, said of his interest in writing.

Bernabe and his family moved from Yellowknife to Elko in 2024, where his love of reading and writing has continued and he remains inspired by his time in the NWT.

He recently placed second in Nevada’s Patriot’s Pen essay writing contest. Open to state students in grades 6 to 8, the program encouraged entrants to write about how they are showing patriotism and support for the US.

Bernabe also received an honourable mention at the 2026 Elko County School District Writing Festival.

He said he wrote about his siblings, his time in Alaska and Yellowknife, and evacuating from the NWT capital in 2023.

“I really, really like Yellowknife,” he said.

“I like all of the friends that I made, I liked all of the activities that I joined, I liked hockey and soccer, I liked my school and I liked my environment, which inspired me.”

Bernabe, who plays the flute, recorder and piano, said he is also inspired by his music.

After placing third in a music festival he said he gets to travel to New York this June.

Music and seniors ‘meaningful’ to Bernabe family

Bernabe’s mother, Oyuka, said when they lived in Yellowknife, her three children would visit Avens to play music for seniors.

She said that’s what they were doing the day the evacuation of the city was announced. She said her family later ended up leaving the city on the same plane to Calgary as several seniors.

“It was very memorable for us,” she said.

Since moving to Nevada, Oyuka said her family has continued visiting with and playing music for local seniors.

“It’s something meaningful for our family,” she said, noting her children’s grandparents live far away.

Asked about the advice he would give to other young people interested in writing, Bernabe said he has developed a saying: “Your pen is your compass, so stop looking at your map.”

“It means to enjoy your writing and go where your writing wants to go. Don’t focus on it being perfect, because if it is, it won’t be perfect,” he explained.

Bernabe said he is currently working on a poem about mining and his dad.