Can't access home folder in OS X via media browser

So I recieved a project template from a client, which includes a .pproj file and several media items linked in the project file. However, when I open the project in Premier it says it can't find the files. I click "Locate" and the Premier file browser comes up.

My issue is that these project files are all located within my home folder (/Users/<name>/path/to/project), however the media browser will not allow me to browse anywhere in my home folder, no matter what I do. If I use the dropdown to select "Home Folder", it simply takes me to the /Users/Shared folder instead. This also happens if I right-click the items in the timeline using "Link Media...", same issue. I cannot access anything in the home folder.

I checked disk permissions, and file permissions. I'm running under the same user account, and I have no problems linking media in After Effects, so I'm not sure why I can't do this in Premier?

I should note these project files are downloaded off a remote NAS drive, so the 'missing' paths are searching for files in that drive, however it is not mountable. Also I just recently upgraded to Big Sur.

Has anyone experienced something similar? Any ideas on how to fix this? Thanks