Alpha Pi Omega Sorority, Inc. () is the oldest historically Indigenous national sorority in the United States. It is the largest Indigenous Greek letter organization, with 26 chartered chapters across nine states and the District of Columbia.
History Alpha Pi Omega Sorority was founded on Sept. 1, 1994, at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill by four Native women. The founders, now known to as the Four Winds, are Shannon Brayboy (Lumbee), Jamie Goins (Lumbee), Amy Locklear (Lumbee and Coharie), and Christie Strickland (Lumbee). Before forming the group, they sought and received the approval of elder women from the various tribes of North Carolina.
The sorority's founding principles are traditionalism, spirituality, education, and contemporary issues. The sorority was incorporated with the State of North Carolina in 1995 and expanded to additional campuses.
With more than 130 tribes, bands and Indigenous communities represented among its members, the sorority has more than 1,000 sisters nationwide. Nationally, the sorority is governed by a thirteen-member board known as the Grand Keepers of the Circle. Grand Keepers are elected to two-year terms and meet bi-monthly.
Symbols The sorority's colors are fire red, new grass green, and maize yellow. Its mascot is the Queen Bee, while its jewel is the amethyst. Its tree is the cedar and its flower is the dogwood. The Alpha Pi Omega motto is "My Sister As Myself".
Activities Alpha Pi Omega preserves Native American traditions by celebrating and practicing cultural and spiritual heritage, such as hosting stickball games. At the same time, it supports a network for college students and professionals in modern society. The sorority's annual national convention is called the Grand Gathering.
Its permanent national philanthropy is the National Indian Education Association, as of 2010. Individual chapters also participate in local fundraising events such as Walk a Mile in Her Shoes or Remember the 10 Run. The Washington State University chapter held sexual assault awareness classes and LGBTQ+ ally training, while the Oregon State University chapter held a fundraiser for the Humane Society.
Membership Interested women may join at the undergraduate or post-undergraduate level. Collegiate women must have completed at least one full-time academic term, have a 2.5 GPA or higher, and have no previous affiliation with any social sorority. Women interested in joining a professional chapter must have completed a bachelor's degree or higher and have no previous affiliation with any social sorority.
Chapters Chapters are chartered at the sorority's annual Grand Gathering.
Undergraduate chapters APO starts potential chapters as expansion sites. After a year, the expansion chapter becomes a provisional chapter. Following is a list of Alpha Pi Omega collegiate chapters. Active chapters are indicated in bold. Inactive chapters are shown in italic.
ChapterCharter date and rangeInstitutionLocationStatusAlpha University of North Carolina-Chapel HillChapel Hill, North CarolinaActiveBeta University of North Carolina at PembrokePembroke, North CarolinaActiveGamma Oklahoma State University–StillwaterStillwater, OklahomaActiveDeltaUniversity of New MexicoAlbuquerque, New MexicoInactiveEpsilonDartmouth CollegeHanover, New HampshireInactiveZeta University of ArizonaTucson, ArizonaInactiveEta North Carolina State UniversityRaleigh, North CarolinaActiveThetaNortheastern State UniversityTahlequah, OklahomaActiveIota Arizona State UniversityTempe, ArizonaActiveKappa Oregon State UniversityCorvallis, OregonInactiveLambda University of Wisconsin–MadisonMadison, WisconsinActiveMu - 201x ?Haskell Indian Nations UniversityLawrence, KansasInactiveNu Duke UniversityDurham, North CarolinaActiveXiWashington State UniversityPullman, WashingtonInactiveUniversity of Northern ColoradoGreeley, ColoradoHoney ProcessBoston Citywide (Harvard University, Northeastern University, Wellesley College)Boston, MassachusettsHoney ProcessWestern Carolina UniversityCullowhee, North CarolinaHoney ProcessUniversity of KansasLawrence, KansasHoney ProcessUniversity of North DakotaGrand Forks, North DakotaHoney ProcessUniversity of North Carolina at GreensboroGreensboro, North CarolinaHoney Process
Graduate chapters Graduate chapters are for women who have received their undergraduate degrees. Following is a list of graduate chapters. Active chapters are indicated in bold. Inactive chapters are shown in italic.
NameCharter dateLocationStatusAlpha PiThe Triangle, North Carolina ActiveBeta Pi Robeson County, North CarolinaActiveGamma Pi Columbus County, North CarolinaInactiveDelta PiPayne County, OklahomaActiveEpsilon PiBernalillo County, New MexicoActiveZeta Pi Washington, D.C.InactiveEta Pi – 20xx ?Pima County, ArizonaInactiveTheta PiOklahoma County, Oklahoma ActiveIota PiCherokee County, OklahomaActiveKappa Pi Rocky Mount, North CarolinaActiveLambda Pi Twin Cities (Minneapolis–Saint Paul)ActiveMu Pi Maricopa County, Arizona (Maricopa County, Arizona)ActiveDane County, WisconsinHoney Process
See also Cultural interest fraternities and sororities List of social sororities and women's fraternities Phi Sigma Nu fraternity
References