WATCH: Black Ferns Sevens receive 'special' Indigenous welcome to Vancouver

The Black Ferns Sevens arrived in Vancouver to a pretty special surprise waiting for them at the airport.

We’re used to seeing celebrities, musicians and sports teams welcomed to Aotearoa with a haka and waiata - but this time, as our wāhine touched down in Canada, they were the ones being honoured, receiving a heartfelt welcome from the First Nation people.

“My dear friends and relatives, on behalf of our Musqueam people, we’re so honoured to be able to come and greet you and meet you here, in the ways our ancestors have," the speaker began.

“You are all so very welcome here. We are so happy to have you, and we all can’t wait to see you on that pitch.”

That warrior still belongs in all of us.

Black Ferns Sevens captain Risaleaana Pouri-Lane responded with just as much aroha. “Firstly, I just wanna say, what a huge honour it is to be welcomed onto your whenua (land)," she said.

We may be from different countries, but there are so many similarities between our cultures.

She added: “I mean, to be welcomed with so much warmth and hospitality onto your land, onto where your ancestors came from - thank you so much for the love and warmth you’ve given us.”

The Black Ferns honoured the Musqueam people by beautifully singing the waiata ‘E Te Iwi E’.

Commenters shared that the exchange made them emotional, with one person writing: “How beautiful!! It made me cry to see such respect between two indigenous cultures. And I may have cried at the end, hearing our waiata.”

“This is a beautiful cultural exchange, and I want more of this loveliness than the hate currently filling the world. ❤️🌎,” another said.

A third added: “The respect and honour they show each other is wonderful. Beautiful culture.”

The Black Ferns Sevens are in Vancouver competing in the HSBC SVNS tournament this weekend, March 7 and 8.