Former Penobscot Nation chief criticizes tribal plan to sell vodka to casinos
A proposal by a corporate subsidiary of the Penobscot Indian Nation to make vodka for sale primarily to tribal casinos in other states has been challenged by the tribe’s former chief as being in conflict with tribal values.
The Bangor Daily News reported that former Penobscot Chief Barry Dana has voiced strong opposition to a proposal involving Penobscot Indian Nation Enterprises, or PINE, to bottle and prepare vodka distilled by a subsidiary for sale at casinos.
“Vodka, I personally believe, is not in line with the values of the Penobscot Nation,” Dana told the newspaper. “We have a problem with alcohol to the point we have banned the sale of it on the island. It seems weird to me that we can’t sell it, but we’re going to make it.”
Penobscot Nation Chief Kirk Francis, who defeated Dana in the tribe’s 2014 election, declined comment.
“Until our internal permits are done, I have no comment about something that does not exist at this point,” Francis told the newspaper.
BDN reported that PINE received a federal permit to process, bottle and ship spirits in August 2016 and has a pending state distillery application for a site on Indian Island.
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