Our Mission & Vision
Mission: Dominion of Adam is a nonprofit Indigenous heritage, faith, and humanitarian organization of Chawasha descendants, whose ancestors shared language and kinship with the Chitimacha people of Louisiana. Based in Lafayette, Louisiana, in the historic Attakapas region, and guided by reverence for the Creator and humanity's sacred responsibility as stewards of the land, air, and water, we work to preserve ancestral heritage and knowledge, educate and empower communities, advance responsible science and technology, and serve people in need at home and abroad.
Vision: A world in which communities live in harmony with one another and with the earth, where ancestral wisdom is honored, knowledge is shared freely, and every generation inherits a land, air, and water that sustain life.
We are committed to keeping our traditions alive while embracing positive change, and to working in partnership with civil society organizations, faith communities, and people of goodwill everywhere in support of peace, human dignity, and sustainable development.
Land Acknowledgment
We give thanks to the Creator, whom we honor as "AHAYA" and "Y'SHAYA," for the gift of these lands and waterways. We honor the ancestors who rest in the burial grounds of this region, and we acknowledge the Attakapa-Ishak people, the original inhabitants of the Attakapas region where Lafayette stands, and the Chitimacha people, whose traditional lands lie alongside it. These lands are not merely territory; they are the foundation of our identity, our spirituality, and our responsibility as stewards of creation.
Our Four Pillars
Ministry of Prayer
Prayer gatherings, ceremonies, and pastoral care for families in times of hardship, protection of sacred sites, and interfaith dialogue for peace.
Coming SoonScience & Technology
Our digital archive, environmental stewardship of land and waterways, and digital skills training for community members.
Under ConstructionSchool of Education
Culturally centered youth education, language revitalization, oral history, and sustainable agriculture.
Under ConstructionInternational & Humanitarian
Relief and community development at home and abroad, and partnerships with organizations that share our values.
Coming SoonQuick Access
Ephraim Temple of Prayer
Our planned chapter and place of prayer in Lafayette, Louisiana, serving the community through all four pillars.
Coming SoonLanguage Programs
Join our efforts to preserve and revitalize our ancestral language.
Under ConstructionHumanitarian Projects
Support our relief efforts, community services, and community events.
Coming SoonCurrent Initiatives
- Oral History Project: Collecting and preserving elder testimonies and traditional stories
- Youth Education Programs: Culturally centered learning opportunities for our children
- Language Revitalization: Immersion programs and digital dictionary development, drawing on our shared Chitimachan linguistic heritage
- Sustainable Agriculture: Revitalizing traditional farming practices with modern techniques
- Digital Archive & Library: Preserving historical records, genealogical resources, and cultural materials
- Sacred Sites Stewardship: Caring for and advocating for the protection of ancestral burial grounds and sacred sites