"It seemed like attendance was down," said Frank, who served as the head man dancer in this year's Pow-Wow.
The Pow-Wow usually attracts attendees because of its visibility on the Green, Frank said.
"Thompson Arena is kind of out of the way you wouldn't go there unless you intended to," he said.
The indoor location also affected acoustics and performance, according to Frank.
"You had to pay attention to the drum beat a lot more," he said. "For me, it's just a lot more comfortable to dance on grass."
The Pow-Wow featured an honoring song for Mankiller, who served as the first female chief of the Cherokee Nation. Mankiller who served as principal chief from 1985 to 1995 was an advocate of welfare and civil rights for Native people, women and minorities, according to the event press release.
"When I think of Native leaders, she's definitely one of the top leaders of this past century," Frank said.
Mankiller earned an honorary degree from the College in 1991 and was a Montgomery Fellow in 1996. Former College President James Wright and Greg Buzzard '13 spoke on behalf of Mankiller at the Pow-Wow, detailing the crucial role she played in the modernization of the Cherokee nation, according to Frank.
Pow-Wow organizers recognized Hanitchak on Saturday afternoon for his dedication to the Native American Program, according to the release.
Hanitchak served as the College's first Native American admissions officer and taught in the Film and Media Studies department and the Native American Studies department before becoming head of the Native American Program in 1995, according to the release.
"Michael's dedication to ensuring the success of Native Americans students at Dartmouth is without a doubt his last legacy," Rachel Bond, acting director of the Native American Program, said in the release. "To have devoted as many years as he did to helping Native students in their personal, social, intellectual, cultural and ethical development is unprecedented. His good works cast a long shadow but I'm honored to be here keeping his commitment alive."
John Around Him '12 was responsible for the overall planning of the Pow-Wow, according to the release.
"I think often Pow-Wow is viewed as an isolated event and this is not the case," Around Him said in the release. "Pow-Wow is a community event and we are the community."
The Pow-Wow attracted visitors from out of state who wanted to support the Native American community at the College, according to Frank. Frank, who is originally from California, said his family came to the Pow-Wow to enjoy the cultural celebration.
"Because I was head man, it was important for my family to come out and support me in that role," he said.
A portion of the proceeds from the Pow-Wow will be donated to the College's financial hardship fund, which provides monetary support to those who have recently lost their jobs because of budget cuts at the College, according to the press release.
