Montana’s Chinese Heritage Revealed Through Archaeology And Regional Restaurant History

The Mai Wah Society is proudly partnering with the Butte Archives to sponsor a presentation by Dr. Sophia Etier that explores the adaptation of western Montana’s Chinese communities through archaeological culinary remnants and the evolution of regional Chinese restaurants. Part of the Archives’ Brown Bag Lunch series, it will be held on September 9, 2026, at the Butte Archives at 17 West Quartz Street starting at noon.

 Dr. Sophia Etier is an Applied Anthropologist and Public Historian who currently works at the University of Montana, where she earned her doctorate in Anthropology with a concentration in cultural heritage studies. To date, she has published several articles on the experiences of western Chinese populations. She is also an active historic preservationist, currently serving on the Missoula Historic Preservation Commission and working as a research consultant for the City of Missoula Historic Preservation Office. Etier also serves on the board for the Montana Archaeological Society.

Etier notes that, regionally, restaurants such as the Pekin Noodle Parlor became cultural anchors that preserved cultural identity amid decades of severe cultural exclusion and discrimination. Later establishments such as the Golden Pheasant and Ming’s Restaurant served as tangible memory spaces that bridged historic traditions with modern community life. By integrating archaeological evidence and historical narratives, Dr. Etier aims to demonstrate how adapted culinary practices offer insights into the cultural adaptation and heritage resilience in Montana.

The Mai Wah Society is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization established for educational, charitable, and scientific purposes, including research and public education about the history, culture, and conditions of Asian people in the Rocky Mountain West. Learn more about the organization at www.maiwah.org.