By Michael Staples Local Journalism Initiative Reporter A staunch defender of Indigenous rights and culture in Canada says he’s not worried that a record number of immigrants are making their way into the country. Instead, Chief Allan Polchies Jr. of the New Brunswick-based Sitansisk (St. Mary’s) First Nation is embracing newcomers and applauding them for a willingness to learn about Aboriginal customs and for their overall commitment to make a better society. “It increased immigration certainly doesn’t appear to be a problem,” Polchies told New Canadian Media. “Indigenous Canadians, typically, stand behind immigrants.” According to Statistics Canada, an estimated population of 2.2 million non-permanent residents now outnumbers the 1.8 million Indigenous people enumerated during the 2021 Census. Polchies, who became the first LGBTQ2AI+ chief in Atlantic Canada in 2018, said…
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