The Omaha tribe was made up of ten distinct groups, each one having its own name, a set of names for those born within the group, and certain religious symbols and ceremonies committed to its care.

By tribal rites and regulations these ten distinct groups were welded together to form the tribe, whose strength and prosperity depended upon internal harmony and unity.
The He-de Wa-chi taught the people what this unity really stood for.

The central object of the ceremony was a tree, which was the symbol of the tribe; its branches were as the different groups composing the tribe, the twigs that made up the branches were as the individuals that formed the groups.
The Omaha had special ceremonies for the preparation of the central object.
They cut a tree, left a tuft of branches at the top and painted the trunk in alternate bands of red and black.

The red bands represented day, the black, night; the decoration as a whole stood for the continuity of life.
This pole was planted in a broad open space.

As the melodious Call to the Ceremony echoed over the land, the people gathered from their tents.