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{{Short description|Native American collegiate sorority}}
{{About|the Native American sorority, Alpha Pi Omega|the unrelated service fraternity with a similar name|Alpha Phi Omega}}
{{Infobox Fraternity
| name = Alpha Pi Omega
| letters = {{lang|grc|ΑΠΩ}}
| crest = Alpha_Pi_Omega_sorority_crest.png
| image_size = 180px
| alt = An informal crest for {{lang|grc|ΑΠΩ}}, as used on their website.
| founded = {{start date and age|1994|09|01}}
| birthplace = [[University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill]]
| affiliation = Independent
| emphasis = Native American
| status = Active
| type = Social fraternity
| scope = National
| colors = {{color box|#C91D32}} [[Red|Fire red]], {{color box|#50B136}} [[Green|New Grass green]] and {{color box|#FBEC5D}} [[Maize (color)|Maize yellow]]
| jewel = [[Amethyst]]
| tree = [[Cedrus|Cedar]]
| flower = [[Dogwood]]
| mascot = Queen Bee
| motto = ''My Sister As Myself''
| chapters = 10 (active collegiate), 10 (graduate)
| colonies = 6 (collegiate), 1 (graduate)
| address = 1441 E. 104th Street
| city = [[Kansas City]]
| state = [[Missouri]]
| ZIP code = 64131
| country = United States
| homepage = {{url|http://www.alphapiomega.org}}
}}

'''Alpha Pi Omega Sorority, Inc.''' ('''{{lang|grc|ΑΠΩ}}''') is the oldest historically Indigenous national sorority in the United States.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Belec |first=Hannah Moulton |date=October 24, 2019 |title=Alpha Pi Omega, the first sorority for native women |url=https://studentlife.asu.edu/content/alpha-pi-omega-first-sorority-native-women |access-date=2023-01-02 |website=Arizona State University Student Life}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-07-03 |title=Encore: Alpha Pi Omega — The First Sorority For Native American Women |url=https://www.wgbh.org/news/national-news/2020/07/03/encore-alpha-pi-omega-the-first-sorority-for-native-american-women |access-date=2023-01-02 |website=WGBH News |language=en}}</ref> It is the largest Indigenous Greek letter organization,<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Xi Chapter of Alpha Pi Omega Sorority, Incorporated |url=https://wsu.presence.io/organization/xi-chapter-of-alpha-pi-omega-sorority-incorporated |access-date=2023-01-02 |website=Coug Presence Pullman {{!}} Washington State University - Pullman |language=en}}</ref> with 24 chartered chapters across nine states and the District of Columbia.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Alpha Pi Omega Sorority |url=https://www.alphapiomega.org/#:~:text=Alpha%20Pi%20Omega%20Sorority%20Inc,nationwide%20and%2024%20chartered%20chapters. |access-date=2023-01-02 |website=www.alphapiomega.org}}</ref>

==History==
Alpha Pi Omega Sorority was founded on Sept. 1, 1994, at the [[University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill]] by four Native women.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":6">{{Cite news |last=Landry |first=Alysa |date=September 13, 2018 |title=Native Sorority Empowers Women and Promotes Culture |url=https://indiancountrytoday.com/archive/native-sorority-empowers-women-and-promotes-culture |access-date=2023-01-02 |newspaper=Ict News |language=en}}</ref> The founders, now known to as the Four Winds, are Shannon Brayboy ([[Lumbee]]), Jamie Goins ([[Lumbee]]), Amy Locklear (Lumbee and [[Coharie Indian People, Inc.|Coharie]]), and Christie Strickland ([[Lumbee]]).<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":6" /> Before forming the group, they sought and received the approval of elder women from the various tribes of North Carolina.<ref name=":6" />

The sorority's founding principles are traditionalism, spirituality, education, and contemporary issues.<ref name=":1" /> Its first pledge class was called the Fifteen Warrior Women.<ref name=":6" /> The sorority was incorporated with the State of North Carolina in 1995 and expanded to additional campuses.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2013-06-06 |title=Alpha Pi Omega Sorority, Inc. |url=https://studentlife.oregonstate.edu/chapter-profile/alpha-pi-omega-sorority-inc |access-date=2023-01-02 |website=Office of the Dean of Students, Oregon State University |language=en}}</ref>

With more than 130 tribes represented by its members, the sorority has more than 900 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.<ref name=":3" /> Its mascot is the Queen Bee, while its jewel is the amethyst.<ref name=":3" /> Its tree is the cedar and its flower is the dogwood.<ref name=":3" /> The Alpha Pi Omega motto is "My Sister As Myself".<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://www.alphapiomega.org/About.html#History |access-date=2023-01-02 |website=Alpha Pi Omega}}</ref>

==Activities==
Alpha Pi Omega preserves Native American traditions by celebrating and practicing cultural and spiritual heritage, such as hosting [[Stickball (First Nations)|stickball games]].<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=July 20, 2017 |title=OSU Native American sorority nabs national honors |url=https://www.stwnewspress.com/news/osu-native-american-sorority-nabs-national-honors/article_ee114742-6cf8-11e7-a8a9-2340f16a4661.html |access-date=2023-01-02 |website=Stillwater News Press |language=en}}</ref> At the same time, it supports a network for college students and professionals in modern society.<ref name=":6" /> The sorority's annual national convention is called the Grand Gathering.<ref name=":4" />

Its permanent national philanthropy is the [[National Indian Education Association]], as of 2010.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":8" /> Individual chapters also participate in local fundraising events such as Walk a Mile in Her Shoes or Remember the 10 Run.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Jackson |first=Tesina |date=September 19, 2011 |title=Native American sorority named chapter of the year |url=https://www.cherokeephoenix.org/education/native-american-sorority-named-chapter-of-the-year/article_a872e4d6-4b36-51cd-b657-74d9afffa0cd.html |access-date=2023-01-02 |website=Cherokee Phoenix |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":7" /> 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 of the United States|Humane Society]].<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Negron |first=Loren |date=July 23, 2020 |title=WSU Greek chapter chartered by first Native American sorority in country |url=https://dailyevergreen.com/83404/news/wsu-greek-chapter-chartered-by-first-native-american-sorority-in-country/ |access-date=2023-01-02 |website=The Daily Evergreen}}</ref><ref name=":7" />

==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 2.8 GPA or higher, and have no previous affiliation with any social sorority.<ref name=":3" /> 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.<ref name=":5" />

=== Undergraduate chapters ===
APO starts potential chapters or colonies as expansion chapters or honey pots.<ref name=":5" /> After a year, the expansion chapter becomes a provisional chapter.<ref name=":5" /> Following is a list of Alpha Pi Omega collegiate chapters.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |title=Our Chapters |url=https://www.alphapiomega.org/Chapters.html |access-date=2024-05-23 |website=Alpha Pi Omega Sorority}}</ref><ref name=":0">Lurding, Carroll and Becque, Fran. (December 29, 2022) ''[https://uofi.app.box.com/v/womens-pdf-folder/file/459803154069 Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities]''. Urbana: University of Illinois. Accessed January 2, 2023.</ref> Active chapters are indicated in '''bold'''. Inactive chapters are shown in ''italic''.
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%;"
!Chapter
!Charter date
!Institution
!Location
!Status
!Reference
|-
|'''Alpha'''
|{{dts|1994|9|1}}
|[[University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill]]
|[[Chapel Hill, North Carolina]]
|Active
|
|-
|'''Beta'''
|{{dts|1997|11|27}}
|[[University of North Carolina at Pembroke]]
|[[Pembroke, North Carolina]]
|Active
|
|-
|'''Gamma'''
|{{dts|2004|5|29}}
|[[Oklahoma State University–Stillwater]]
|[[Stillwater, Oklahoma]]
|Active
|<ref name=":8" />{{Efn|Founded as an expansion chapter in November 2002.}}
|-
|''Delta''
|{{dts|2005|5|28}}
|[[University of New Mexico]]
|[[Albuquerque, New Mexico]]
|Inactive
|
|-
|''Epsilon''
|{{dts|2006|5|27}}
|[[Dartmouth College]]
|[[Hanover, New Hampshire]]
|Inactive
|
|-
|'''Zeta'''
|{{dts|2006|5|27}}
|[[University of Arizona]]
|[[Tucson, Arizona]]
|Active
|
|-
|'''Eta'''
|{{dts|2007|6|2}}
|[[North Carolina State University]]
|[[Raleigh, North Carolina]]
|Active
|
|-
|'''Theta'''
|{{dts|2007|6|2}}
|[[Northeastern State University]]
|[[Tahlequah, Oklahoma]]
|Active
|
|-
|'''Iota'''
|{{dts|2008|6|8}}
|[[Arizona State University]]
|[[Temple, Oklahoma]]
|Active
|<ref name=":1" />{{Efn|Started as a provisional chapter in May 2007.}}
|-
|''Kappa''
|{{dts|2013|7|14}}
|[[Oregon State University]]
|[[Corvallis, Oregon]]
|Inactive
|
|-
|'''Lambda'''
|{{dts|2014|7|12}}
|[[University of Wisconsin–Madison]]
|[[Madison, Wisconsin]]
|Active
|
|-
|''Mu''
|{{dts|2016|7|9}} – 201x ?
|[[Haskell Indian Nations University]]
|[[Lawrence, Kansas]]
|Inactive
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Girard |first=Scott |date=May 31, 2010 |title=Native sisterhood: Students building Haskell's first sorority |url=https://www2.ljworld.com/news/2010/may/31/native-sisterhood-students-building-haskells-first/ |access-date=2023-01-02 |website=Lawrence Journal-World |language=en-US}}</ref>{{Efn|Started as an expansion chapter in April 2010.}}
|-
|'''Nu'''
|{{dts|2020|7|11}}
|[[Duke University]]
|[[Durham, North Carolina]]
|Active
|
|-
|'''Xi'''
|{{dts|2020|7|11}}
|[[Washington State University]]
|[[Pullman, Washington]]
|Active
|<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":5" />{{Efn|Established as a provisional chapter March 30, 2018.}}
|-
|
|
|[[University of Northern Colorado]]
|[[Greeley, Colorado]]
|Colony
|
|-
|
|
|Boston Citywide ([[Harvard University]], [[Northeastern University]], [[Wellesley College]])
|[[Boston Massachusetts|Boston, Massachusetts]]
|Colony
|
|-
|
|
|[[Western Carolina University]]
|[[Cullowhee, North Carolina]]
|Colony
|
|-
|
|
|[[University of Kansas]]
|[[Lawrence, Kansas]]
|Colony
|
|-
|
|
|[[University of North Dakota]]
|[[Grand Forks, North Dakota]]
|Colony
|
|-
|
|
|[[University of North Carolina at Greensboro]]
|[[Greensboro, North Carolina]]
|Colony
|
|}{{notelist}}

=== Graduate chapters ===
Graduate chapters are for women who have received their undergraduate degrees.<ref name=":8" /> The sorority calls its colonies expansion chapters. Following is a list of graduate chapters.<ref name=":9" /> Active chapters are indicated in '''bold'''. Inactive chapters are shown in ''italic''.
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%;"
!Name
!Charter date
!Location
!Status
!Reference
|-
|'''Alpha Pi'''
|{{dts|1994|9|1}}
|[[The Triangle, North Carolina]]
|Active
|
|-
|'''Beta Pi'''
|{{dts|1996|11|27}}
|[[Robeson County, North Carolina]]
|Active
|
|-
|'''Gamma Pi'''
|{{dts|2004|5|29}}
|[[Columbus County, North Carolina]]
|Active
|
|-
|'''Delta Pi'''
|{{dts|2005|5|28}}
|[[Payne County, Oklahoma]]
|Active
|
|-
|'''Epsilon Pi'''
|{{dts|2013|7|13}}
|[[Bernalillo County, New Mexico]]
|Active
|<ref name=":6" />
|-
|'''Zeta Pi'''
|{{dts|2013|7|13}}
|[[Washington, D.C.]]
|Active
|<ref name=":6" />
|-
|''Eta Pi''
|{{dts|2014|7|12}} – 20xx ?
|[[Pima County, Arizona]]
|Inactive
|
|-
|'''Theta Pi'''
|{{dts|2015|7|11}}
|[[Oklahoma County, Oklahoma]]
|Active
|
|-
|'''Iota Pi'''
|{{dts|2018|7|14}}
|[[Cherokee County, Oklahoma]]
|Active
|
|-
|'''Kappa Pi'''
|{{dts|2021|7|10}}
|[[Rocky Mount, North Carolina]]
|Active
|
|-
|'''Lambda Pi'''
|July 15, 2023
|Twin Cities ([[Minneapolis–Saint Paul]])
|Active
|
|-
|
|
|[[Dane County, Wisconsin]]
|Colony
|
|}

==See also==
* [[Cultural interest fraternities and sororities]]
* [[List of social sororities and women's fraternities]]
* [[Phi Sigma Nu]] fraternity

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Fraternities and Sororities |collapsed}}

[[Category:Student organizations established in 1994]]
[[Category:Fraternities and sororities in the United States]]
[[Category:Native American organizations]]
[[Category:1994 establishments in North Carolina]]
[[Category:Native American history of North Carolina]]
[[Category:Women's organizations based in the United States]]
[[Category:Sororities]]

Alpha Pi Omega - Revision history

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