Local Seneca Activist Ross John Sr. along with Activist John Kane teamed up together to create a documentary called The Long Hope. The Long Hope is a documentary on an activist’s position on Sovereignty and the Rule of Law. The film was created by Iron Rose Productions in Conjunction with Iroquois Productions. The film Director is Elspeth Victoria Fitzgerald, Producer James H Fitzgerald, and writers: John Kane, Ross John
This film journey for Ross John Sr. and John Kane years ago. They had pitched the idea to multiple businesses around the community to try and gain interest but were always met with nodding in agreement then falling short on action. With the multiple let downs Ross and his wife, Holly John, decided to take matters into their own hands.
John Kane stated that his reasoning behind wanting to make the film is that he does a radio show in New York and Washington putting the show up on video as well. With that he wanted to see how he could get his word out there to reach more people, Kane set off to write a book. While in that process he thought to himself “who is going to read this? Am I better off trying a different medium?” Then Ross, who has also made appearances on Kane’s show sharing similar viewpoints, reached out and got on board with the documentary. Although it was not smooth sailing the two started with the basic framework of what point they wanted to get across. Then came the next step: how do we execute this?
They sat down with three different production teams before finally selecting Iron Rose Productions to make their vision become a reality. They felt that it would be quicker to get their message out into the communities and spread awareness through their documentary if self-funded. The creative license also was a big part of it as well, added Kane, being self-funded allowed for them to have full creative freedom.
Once that part was all squared away the John’s & Kane set out on the process of what they really wanted their film to be. Ross John Sr. said that his process started a long time ago. He stated he was born during the Kinzua Removal Era and was born into the activist role. He was young but saw and experienced the emotions that came with the removal. The harsh reality of laying his grandmother to rest then having to dig up her grave to relocate her. The family was displaced due to the removal, and his father could no longer operate his farm so took to iron working – this led to his father breaking his back on the job. Knowing it wasn’t just their family being affected and realizing how many others were also sitting with this painful memory of what life once was, Ross set off to act. Feeling the need to never let this happen again to him or his people. He had moved into politics but realized we weren’t making the right arguments.
The documentary re that there is a system of legal doctrines, not the law, but legal doctrines which laws have been built upon, that are based on racism states Kane. The message of our history. How the government has treated nations in the past, current issues and exposes the truths that are woven into every family of every nation from coast to coast, Holly states. These truths are to open their eyes to the exposure the reality of how the government treats us all.
“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 about 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.” – Quote from The Long Hope Director’s Statement on the RNIFF website.
The Long Hope film has been officially selected for the Red Nation International Film Festival in Los Angeles, CA — the premiere Native film festival in the United States. The festival dates: November 10th–16th, 2025 with screening: Saturday, November 15th at 2:40 PM (PDT). Red Nation International Film Festival (RNIFF) is the largest Native Indigenous Film Festival in the world and the first in Los Angeles. A program of Red Nation Celebration Institute (RNCI) the Creative Enterprise by Natives delivering to all people the stories that shape our world.
The John’s also wanted to highlight other Haudenosaunee and descendants whose films have been selected at the festival.
Seeds | Directed by Kaniehtiio Horn
The Bone Comb | Director: Maurice Allen John
Kanenon:we – Original Seeds | Director: Katsitsionni D Fox
The Opening Address | Directors: Jess Lowe Chaverri, Konwanahktotha Alvera Sargent
