DEH CHO - In two communities in the Deh Cho Prime Minister Stephen Harper's historic apology to victims of the residential school system elicited emotions in real time.

In Fort Providence more than 50 people gathered in the council chambers to listen to the apology at 1 p.m. on June 11.

In Fort Providence former residential school students John Farcy, left, Rosemary Farcy, Adele Clille and Joy Deneyoua were among the people who gathered to listen to Prime Minister Stephen Harper's apology on June 11. - photo courtesy of Phoebe Parent

The room was very quiet as the prime minister spoke, said Joachim Bonnetrouge, the co-ordinator of the Fort Providence Residential School Society.

"It was very somber," he said.

"Everyone seemed to be in their own minds."

The crowd listened as Harper talked about the history and legacy of residential schools.

"The treatment of children in Indian residential schools is a sad chapter in our history," Harper said in the House of Commons.

"The government now recognizes that the consequences of the Indian residential schools policy were profoundly negative and that this policy has had a lasting and damaging impact on aboriginal culture, heritage and language."

Harper went on to apologize for Canada's role in the system.

"The government of Canada sincerely apologizes and asks the forgiveness of the aboriginal people of this country for failing them so profoundly," he said.

The speech brought back a lot of "very hard, sad memories," said Bonnetrouge.

After the speech people at the gathering, including some elders, spoke and shared stories.

"A lot of them said they were thinking about their moms and dads," Bonnetrouge said.

He said he remembers what it was like to be taken away from his family when he was five years old.

"I was emotional, just on the verge of tears during the statement by the prime minister," he said.

The apology seemed to be sincere, Bonnetrouge said.

"I thought they were doing their darnedest to say to us that something bad happened and they were sorry," he said.

For Dene communities the apology has given further permission for people to deal with the issue of residential schools and for survivors to share stories with each other and with the public, Bonnetrouge said.

"For me it was at least a validation," he said.

"The Canadian society is finally acknowledging what we survivors have been saying. We didn't make it up."

In Fort Simpson a large group of 50 to 60 people gathered in a boardroom in Dehcho Hall to listen to the speech together.

"It was kind of solemn," said Senator Nick Sibbeston who was present.

Sibbeston said the room was very quiet and people listened intently during the speeches. Some people displayed visible signs of emotions.

"I shed a couple tears," said Sibbeston, adding others did too.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper's words seemed to be sincere and it was good to see him apologize, said Sibbeston.

"People were really pleased it was raised to such a national level," he said.

For Sibbeston the apology brought back memories of spending 11 years in residential schools.

Sibbeston entered the school system in the late 1940s, spending six years in Fort Providence at Sacred Heart.

He also spent one year in Inuvik and two years in Fort Smith at Breynat Hall and Grandin Home before doing a final two years at Akaitcho Hall.

It was hard for young children to be taken away from their parents and placed in a strange, institutional environment, he said.

"(I was) remembering how difficult it was and how lonely it was," said Sibbeston.

"It certainly was not a normal upbringing."

The apology brought back a lot of memories for many survivors, he said.

"It was emotional for me," said Sibbeston.