Historians commonly use the twin concepts of transnationalism and diaspora in exploring the lives of overseas Asian migrants, but such analyses are only just emerging among archaeologists. These concepts forefront processes of culture change and identity formation that consider simultaneously socio-economic and cultural influences from home and host countries. They also present an interpretive framework and common axes along which scholars can compare distinct groups of migrants. This study compares patterns of material consumption among Chinese and Japanese migrants at a salmon cannery in British Columbia through the lens of social drinking. Results indicate both groups consumed a range of western-style alcoholic beverages, influenced by local working-class life combined with processes of modernization occurring in the homeland. Nevertheless, both also consumed indigenous Asian beverages, which played a key role in maintaining distinct ethnic identities.
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