Private Project

The Long Hope

Told through the voices of Seneca and Mohawk activists, The Long Hope explores the slave-era origins of US legal theory and policy toward Native Peoples and the struggle of the Seneca and Mohawk Nations to retain their sovereignty in the face of continued aggression by federal and state governments.

  • Elspeth Victoria Fitzgerald
    Director
  • John Kane
    Writer
  • Ross John
    Writer
  • James H Fitzgerald
    Producer
  • Ross John
    Executive Producers
  • Holly John
    Executive Producers
  • John Kane
    Executive Producers
  • Tekarontake
    Key Cast
  • Kaneseraga
    Key Cast
  • Ross John
    Key Cast
  • John Kane
    Key Cast
  • Matt Hill
    Key Cast
  • Ross John, Jr
    Key Cast
  • Holly John
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Feature
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 53 minutes 59 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 31, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    150,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Elspeth Victoria Fitzgerald

Elspeth’s path as an artist began as a tiny dancer, grew up a classically trained ballerina, moved to NYC and studied and performed classical plays graduating with a degree in Theater, created and ran a small dance theater company, and then started a new chapter in film production. She has been molding and creating a unique eye for directing and visually telling stories for the past 15 years through music videos, commercials, short films, short documentaries and recently a feature film. The Long Hope is her directorial debut as a feature documentary filmmaker.

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Director Statement

We created this film to expose some hidden truths about US Government policy, law and behavior regarding Native Peoples. Our hope is to educate Native people and the general public to issues they will never be taught in school.
The ideals that the United States loves to claim as their guiding principles not only were absent regarding slavery but also with the overtly racist policies imposed on Native peoples. Claiming to be a nation based on “rule of law” sounds great until you come to realize the legal doctrines their legal authority is based on are not legal at all.