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This article is about the Native American sorority, Alpha Pi Omega. For the unrelated service fraternity with a similar name, see Alpha Phi Omega.

Alpha Pi Omega Sorority, Inc. (ΑΠΩ) is the oldest historically Indigenous national sorority in the United States.[1][2] It is the largest Indigenous Greek letter organization,[3] with 26 chartered chapters across nine states and the District of Columbia.[4]

History

Alpha Pi Omega Sorority was founded on Sept. 1, 1994, at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill by four Native women.[1][5] 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).[3][5] Before forming the group, they sought and received the approval of elder women from the various tribes of North Carolina.[5]

The sorority’s founding principles are traditionalism, spirituality, education, and contemporary issues.[1][5] The sorority was incorporated with the State of North Carolina in 1995 and expanded to additional campuses.[6]

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.[6] Its mascot is the Queen Bee, while its jewel is the amethyst.[6] Its tree is the cedar and its flower is the dogwood.[6] The Alpha Pi Omega motto is “My Sister As Myself”.[7]

Activities

Alpha Pi Omega preserves Native American traditions by celebrating and practicing cultural and spiritual heritage, such as hosting stickball games.[6][8] At the same time, it supports a network for college students and professionals in modern society.[5] The sorority’s annual national convention is called the Grand Gathering.[9]

Its permanent national philanthropy is the National Indian Education Association, as of 2010.[6][7] Individual chapters also participate in local fundraising events such as Walk a Mile in Her Shoes or Remember the 10 Run.[9][8] 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.[10][8]

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.[6] 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.[10]

Undergraduate chapters

APO starts potential chapters as expansion sites.[10] After a year, the expansion chapter becomes a provisional chapter.[10] Following is a list of Alpha Pi Omega collegiate chapters.[11][12] Active chapters are indicated in bold. Inactive chapters are shown in italic.

Chapter Charter date and range Institution Location Status Ref.
Alpha September 1, 1994 University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, North Carolina Active
Beta November 27, 1997 University of North Carolina at Pembroke Pembroke, North Carolina Active
Gamma May 29, 2004 Oklahoma State University–Stillwater Stillwater, Oklahoma Active [7][a]
Delta May 28, 2005 University of New Mexico Albuquerque, New Mexico Inactive
Epsilon May 27, 2006 Dartmouth College Hanover, New Hampshire Inactive
Zeta May 27, 2006 University of Arizona Tucson, Arizona Inactive
Eta June 2, 2007 North Carolina State University Raleigh, North Carolina Active
Theta June 2, 2007 Northeastern State University Tahlequah, Oklahoma Active
Iota June 8, 2008 Arizona State University Temple, Oklahoma Active [1][b]
Kappa July 14, 2013 Oregon State University Corvallis, Oregon Inactive
Lambda July 12, 2014 University of Wisconsin–Madison Madison, Wisconsin Active
Mu July 9, 2016 – 201x ? Haskell Indian Nations University Lawrence, Kansas Inactive [13][c]
Nu July 11, 2020 Duke University Durham, North Carolina Active
Xi July 11, 2020 Washington State University Pullman, Washington Inactive [3][10][d]
University of Northern Colorado Greeley, Colorado Honey Process
Boston Citywide (Harvard University, Northeastern University, Wellesley College) Boston, Massachusetts Honey Process
Western Carolina University Cullowhee, North Carolina Honey Process
University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas Honey Process
University of North Dakota Grand Forks, North Dakota Honey Process
University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro, North Carolina Honey Process
  1. ^ Founded as an expansion chapter in November 2002.
  2. ^ Started as a provisional chapter in May 2007.
  3. ^ Started as an expansion chapter in April 2010.
  4. ^ Established as a provisional chapter March 30, 2018.

Graduate chapters

Graduate chapters are for women who have received their undergraduate degrees.[7] Following is a list of graduate chapters.[11] Active chapters are indicated in bold. Inactive chapters are shown in italic.

Name Charter date Location Status Ref.
Alpha Pi September 1, 1994 The Triangle, North Carolina Active
Beta Pi November 27, 1996 Robeson County, North Carolina Active
Gamma Pi May 29, 2004 Columbus County, North Carolina Inactive
Delta Pi May 28, 2005 Payne County, Oklahoma Active
Epsilon Pi July 13, 2013 Bernalillo County, New Mexico Active [5]
Zeta Pi July 13, 2013 Washington, D.C. Inactive [5]
Eta Pi July 12, 2014 – 20xx ? Pima County, Arizona Inactive
Theta Pi July 11, 2015 Oklahoma County, Oklahoma Active
Iota Pi July 14, 2018 Cherokee County, Oklahoma Active
Kappa Pi July 10, 2021 Rocky Mount, North Carolina Active
Lambda Pi July 15, 2023 Twin Cities (Minneapolis–Saint Paul) Active
Mu Pi July 12, 2025 Maricopa County, Arizona (Maricopa County, Arizona) Active
Dane County, Wisconsin Honey Process

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d Belec, Hannah Moulton (October 24, 2019). “Alpha Pi Omega, the first sorority for native women”. Arizona State University Student Life. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  2. ^ “Encore: Alpha Pi Omega — The First Sorority For Native American Women”. WGBH News. July 3, 2020. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c “Xi Chapter of Alpha Pi Omega Sorority, Incorporated”. Coug Presence Pullman | Washington State University – Pullman. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  4. ^ “Alpha Pi Omega Sorority”. www.alphapiomega.org. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Landry, Alysa (September 13, 2018). “Native Sorority Empowers Women and Promotes Culture”. Ict News. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g “Alpha Pi Omega Sorority, Inc”. Office of the Dean of Students, Oregon State University. June 6, 2013. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  7. ^ a b c d “History”. Alpha Pi Omega. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  8. ^ a b c “OSU Native American sorority nabs national honors”. Stillwater News Press. July 20, 2017. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  9. ^ a b Jackson, Tesina (September 19, 2011). “Native American sorority named chapter of the year”. Cherokee Phoenix. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  10. ^ a b c d e Negron, Loren (July 23, 2020). “WSU Greek chapter chartered by first Native American sorority in country”. The Daily Evergreen. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  11. ^ a b “Our Chapters”. Alpha Pi Omega Sorority. Retrieved December 1, 2025.
  12. ^ Lurding, Carroll; Becque, Fran, eds. (December 29, 2022). “Women’s Organizations (A): Alpha Pi Omega” (PDF). Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Retrieved January 2, 2023 – via University Library: Student Life and Culture Archives.
  13. ^ Girard, Scott (May 31, 2010). “Native sisterhood: Students building Haskell’s first sorority”. Lawrence Journal-World. Retrieved January 2, 2023.