Witnessing History at Genesis Christian Academy

Joe Lyons • November 18, 2024

Witnessing History at Genesis Christian Academy

ASHLAND, OHIO — Stepping into history is an experience few ever truly get to savor. At Genesis Christian Academy, students were offered a rare glimpse into the past as their American History teacher, Kenneth Hammontree, transformed himself into William Clark of the famed Lewis and Clark Expedition. This immersive reenactment left students in awe, blending the tangible presence of the past with the visceral reality of the present.

Dressed in an elk-hide outfit he handcrafted, complete with a raccoon cap, deerskin moccasins, and a .50 caliber musket rifle, Hammontree brought the world of early 19th-century exploration to life. His ensemble included a string of pelts, ranging from beaver to fox and otter, and photographs of his journey along the Lewis and Clark Trail. Through these tools and his vivid storytelling, Hammontree gave students more than a lesson; he offered an unforgettable experience.

The Story of the Corps of Discovery

The Lewis and Clark Expedition is one of the great tales of American history, a blend of heroism, resilience, and exploration. Led by Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, the Corps of Discovery was tasked with mapping the uncharted wilderness of the American West following the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. Alongside them was Sacagawea, a Shoshone teenager carrying her infant son, who served as an interpreter and guide.

Their journey took them through treacherous terrain, across rivers, and over mountains, exposing them to the untouched beauty of what would become the western United States. Along the way, they cataloged flora and fauna unknown to Western science, encountering animals like grizzly bears, pronghorn antelope, and mule deer for the first time. They also mapped vast stretches of land and interacted with numerous Indigenous tribes, whose assistance was critical to their survival.

“The bravery and endurance of these men and women were extraordinary,” Hammontree told students during his portrayal. “They ventured where no Americans had gone before and returned with stories that transformed the nation’s understanding of its vast new territory.”

Indigenous Perspectives: The Other Side of the Story

As transformative as the Lewis and Clark Expedition was for the fledgling United States, its legacy is more complex for the Indigenous tribes they encountered. The expedition’s journey through Sioux, Nez Perce, Shoshone, and Mandan lands heralded the beginning of profound change — much of it devastating.

President Thomas Jefferson’s instructions to Lewis and Clark included establishing relationships with the tribes and asserting U.S. sovereignty over their lands, even if the tribes did not comprehend these foreign concepts. Gifts such as flags and peace medals symbolized goodwill from the American government, but the underlying message was one of impending ownership.

“The Indigenous peoples had no frame of reference for what these explorers were bringing,” Hammontree explained to his audience. “They saw trinkets and tools, but they couldn’t foresee the tide of change that would upend their way of life.”

In the years following the expedition, waves of trappers, hunters, and settlers decimated animal populations vital to the tribes’ survival. Beaver, buffalo, and elk were hunted to near extinction, stripping Indigenous communities of critical resources. Tribes who had thrived for generations in harmony with the land faced displacement, starvation, and cultural erosion.

The Legacy of Lewis and Clark

The students at Genesis Christian Academy learned that the legacy of Lewis and Clark is as much about loss as it is about discovery. The pristine wilderness they described in their journals — vast plains, untouched forests, and roaring rivers — has been irrevocably altered. Today, much of that land is paved over, dammed, or polluted, a far cry from the Edenic landscapes the Corps of Discovery encountered.

Hammontree emphasized the bittersweet nature of progress. “American expansion paved the way for the country we know today,” he said, “but it came at a cost. The Indigenous way of life, their connection to the land, was shattered.”

A Lesson That Sticks

For the students at Genesis Christian Academy, Hammontree’s portrayal of William Clark wasn’t just a history lesson; it was a journey into the soul of America’s past. They witnessed the bravery and curiosity that propelled a young nation westward while grappling with the difficult truths of what that expansion meant for the original inhabitants of the land.

Through this reenactment, the history of the Lewis and Clark Expedition was brought to life, not just as a chapter in a textbook, but as a living, breathing story of adventure, resilience, and reflection — one that continues to shape America’s identity today.