In the early days of social media, a notorious image circulated of an Indigenous man with raised fists, ready to strike. The photo was initially shared to mock and reinforce stereotypes of Indigenous peoples, but one word added to the image would change it forever.

SKODEN, an Indigenous shortening of “let’s go then,” ignited an instant Indigenous pop culture icon that spread like wildfire across Turtle Island and beyond. But underneath the viral fame was a kind and generous Blackfoot man, Pernell Bad Arm, from Kainai who faced immense challenges while living on the streets.

In this documentary, Damien Eagle Bear seeks to reclaim Pernell’s humanity, offering a more personal and compassionate portrait of the man behind the meme. We are introduced not only to Pernell but also his family. In turn, gaining more insight into who he was, his community, and the much needed resources required to support others like him.

In lead up to the premiere of #SKODEN at Hot Docs, I had the opportunity to speak with Damien about his hopes for the film and more. Click the link below to hear our conversation.

#SKODEN will screen in Toronto again as part of the imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival on June 4, 2025. The film will also be available online through imagineNATIVE’s Watch platform from June 9-15, 2025. For festival details, please visit imaginenative.org.