Across northern Canada, former students of native residential schools shed tears and showed mixed reactions upon hearing Prime Minister Stephen Harper's official apology to them Wednesday.

While some felt the government's apology came too late for former students who have passed away, others said they hope the gesture will promote healing by encouraging those who have hidden their suffering for years to open up.

"What today has done was give us permission — 'Hey, it's OK to start talking about residential school,'" said Joachim Bonnetrouge, 61, a former residential school student who watched the apology live on television with about 30 others in Fort Providence, N.W.T., on Wednesday afternoon.

Bonnetrouge, who now heads up a society for Fort Providence residential school survivors, said he has struggled after suffering physical and sexual abuse as a student.

The next step, he said, will be for former students to start sharing their experiences and feelings to counsellors or to each other.

Bonnetrouge also called on Harper to take his apology one step further, putting it in writing and sending it to every surviving former student.

'Tears are healing'

Counsellor and former student James Jenka says he wants to see what the federal government does now that it has apologized. (CBC)In Yellowknife, about 200 people sat quietly as they watched the address at the Tree of Peace Friendship Centre.

Some, like counsellor James Jenka, expressed sadness that many former students are no longer around to see the historic apology. Jenka said one of his friends from residential school passed away last week.

"To me, it's just words. [I'm] very interested now to see what type of action they'll take now. There's a lot of work that needs to be done," said Jenka.

"I'm sure there's tears shed all over Canada today [Wednesday]. Even here, I see some people crying. That's good, because tears are healing."

The apology sparked an emotional outpouring at the Northwest Territories' legislative assembly — about half of the assembly's 19 MLAs had attended residential schools.

Mackenzie Delta MLA David Krutko said he shed a tear watching the apology, noting that many of his friends from residential school have committed suicide.

"Nothing can bring back those children, my friends, and there's no amount of money in the world that can bring back your culture, your language," Krutko told the assembly.

Dressed in a bright yellow shirt decorated with ribbons, Nahandeh MLA Kevin Menicoche said people now have a reason to be hopeful for the future.

"I send my wishes of courage, strength and wisdom to our people to find forgiveness that we can move forward," he said, adding that the next step will be to record the stories of former students and ensuring they remain in the memory of all Canadians.

Tears of joy for former Nunavut commissioner

In Iqaluit, more than 100 people gathered at the Cadet Hall Wednesday afternoon, including Louise Akearok, who said she thought of an older sister who was sent to a residential school.

Speaking in Inuktitut, Akearok said she also thought of parents who were affected when their children were sent away.

The Iqaluit event ended with an Inuktitut song dedicated to former residential school students.

Some Inuit residential school survivors also travelled to Ottawa to hear the government's apology, including former Nunavut commissioner Peter Irniq.

"I've been crying for the past 50 years," Irniq said Wednesday. "Now that the apology has been given, I'm crying today for joy."

People packed the Council of Yukon First Nations' offices in Whitehorse Wednesday to watch the apology broadcast on TV. (CBC)Speaking in Inuktitut, former student Marius Tungilik said the government's apology will have an effect on all Inuit, heralding a better future.

In Whitehorse, elders, former students, chiefs and dignitaries watched Wednesday's address at the offices of the Council of Yukon First Nations — in a building that used to be a residential school dormitory building.

And in Dawson City, Yukon, more than 100 people watched the broadcast from various locations around town, including the local cultural centre and the Tr'ondek Hwech'in First Nation's community support centre.

Ben Johnson, a former student who watched the apology at the First Nation's centre, said he appreciated the apology, but isn't sure if it will make much difference to those suffering from their experiences.

"I don't know. It's going to take a long time," he said. "It's a deep wounding for everybody, and, you know, it's going to take a while."