Jan. 22--A coercive treaty took land in Grand Forks away from the Chippewas, and it would be fair if the descendents of those that took the land helped the descendents of their victims - by letting them build a casino, chief Ken Davis said this week.

The chairman of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa is seeking the city's blessings for a casino south of town. He spoke Wednesday at a Grand Forks Lions Club luncheon.

The club says it neither endorses nor opposes the casino.

Bill Johnson, a casino consultant for the band, said he's seeking to meet with other service clubs in town.

A casino, Davis told the Lions, would give his impoverished tribe a shot at self-sufficiency. The tribe's members are the most numerous in North Dakota and yet reside on the smallest reservation in one of the most remote parts of the state.

That means its Sky Dancer Hotel and Casino near Belcourt, N.D., could never get as much traffic as tribes with casinos near major highways, though his tribe needs the money just as badly.

Davis' argument seems to be a direct challenge to the moral ground seized by local opponents to the casino who say more gambling will lead to more addiction and more crimes, poorer people and destroyed families.

Opposition

Jerry Hjelden, of Grand Forks, has led an effort - based largely in evangelical churches - to stop the casino plan. Citing facts provided by a church-sponsored national anti-gambling coalition, Hjelden says it will cost the community millions of dollars because of added social problems related to gambling addiction.