The goal of the film is to spread awareness about the Maya land rights movement among people who may mistakenly believe the Mayas no longer exist, with an emphasis on a target audience of age groups ranging from late teens to mid-thirties.

The goal of her film is to spread awareness about the movement. She feels that her target audience will be in age groups ranging from late teens to mid-thirties. Her thought is that this range will be most open to the information and ideas behind the movement. 

Elizabeth was inspired during a farm tour that she took in the village of Laguna in the Toledo District of southern Belize while participating in an ASU study abroad program. At the end of the tour, Mordy Mis, who provided the tour of his family’s farm, told Elizabeth to go home and tell people about him, about his family, and about the Maya people of Belize. Elizabeth stated that “this was moving because I am in a field that I tell people’s stories, so hearing him ask that of us is what locked in for me that this is what I want to do.” Elizabeth feels that she is learning that there is always a way to act and a way to become involved, even if she is not directly involved in the movement.

During the film she felt that those involved in the movement were excited to share their story and supported her project. Elizabeth’s biggest takeaway from the experience is an understanding of the connection we all have, even across borders. She feels that local and international issues are not very different and that they can be viewed and corrected in the same manner.

The images below were taken during one of Elizabeth’s trips to Belize, capturing the ancient Maya ruins at Xunantunich and Caracol. Both sites are located in the Cayo District, north of the Toledo District, and reflect the deep history that modern Maya people have in Belize.