Through spending a lot of time in isolation praying and speaking with the spirits Hinhan Wicasa developed an intimate relationship with the Thunder Spirits.
One time, a white man, one of the first to live in the Yankton area, taunted Hinhan Wicasa about his powers, saying that he was just a fake. He said that Hinhan Wicasa should stand in a metal wash tub and hold an iron crowbar toward the sky during the next thunderstorm to demonstrate that he really had influence with the Thunders. The white man proposed that if Hinhan Wicasa was killed, he would inherit Hinhan Wicasa’s favorite gray horse.
Hinhan Wicasa made him a counter offer. Hinhan Wicasa said that the white man didn’t have to do anything. He could be wherever he liked during the next thunderstorm. Hinhan Wicasa would just tell the Thunders to search him out and kill him. The bet was quickly cancelled.
One time Hinhan Wicasa was called to help a woman with a wandering mind. Hinhan Wicasa had her placed alone in a tipi, while her relatives insured perfect silence by keeping the dogs still. All night long Hinhan Wicasa sang to the spirits, praying for their help. The evil spirit fluttered about the tipi poles all night. In the morning Hinhan Wicasa sent a Spirit of Thunder and Lightning around the inside of the tipi and her mind was restored.
Two of the stories of the spiritual healing powers of Hinhan Wicasa from Singing For a Spirit by Vine Deloria Jr. and as recounted by Ihanktowan Dakota Elder, Phil Lane Sr., Mato Gi, Brown Bear