#skoden tells a modern story about a topic which has persisted for hundreds of years in a humorous but poignant way.
Writer & Director: Damien Eagle Bear
Genre: Documentary
Run Time:
imagineNATIVE Screening: June 4-15, 2025
U.S. Release Date: TBA
U.K. Release Date: TBA
Release Date: TBA
Sometime around the year 2016, a man named Mark Brave Rock posted a photo of his late friend Purnell Bad Arm to Facebook. The meme was captioned “Skoden”, meant to sound like “let’s go then” spoken with an indigenous accent. The image spread like wildfire, with the phrase and picture becoming a rally cry for indigenous youth in the United States and Canada. The mystery of who Purnell Bad Arm was and the context of the portrait are the focus of the documentary #skoden, which provides a glance at a modern issue for the oldest community in North America.
Purnell Bad Arm died about a year before the photo was posted. He spent the majority of his life homeless and met Brave Rock when both were incarcerated. Despite his combative stance, Brave Rock says Bad Arm was quite nice and had an affinity for stuffed animals. He put on the facade to assume a persona of being a tough guy and also to have fun on camera. The way the image and catchphrase “skoden” have been co-opted shows how memes can distort the truth, but also be a handy tool for communication. It is a funny joke, and Bad Arm may have appreciated the extra attention.
#skoden is lighthearted, but it still reports on a serious subject. Bad Arm’s plight is a reminder of how indigenous issues still tend to be ignored in today’s society and misunderstood if they are reported. Racial violence and tensions still permeate the lives of these people, who just want to fit in. Bad Arm is one of many people who have similar stories, and this documentary calls them to light. In reporting this story, #skoden tries to garner sympathy for people like Bad Arm, who are chronically misunderstood by society.
The stereotype of indigenous people today is of serious, conservative individuals separated from modern technology and culture. In reality, there are many indigenous content creators on social media, and they are young and lively with a great sense of humor. Young people love quoting the meme, and its ambiguity led to it being versatile. It can either be used as fighting words or on the defensive, leading to interesting conversations about indigenous identity and how their culture translates to the Internet. #skoden shows how a simple catchphrase can become a mark of identity.
Behind every meme is a story. Every person photographed is a human being with a real life and feelings. Most people do not know the impact memes can have on their lives, but #skoden provides the rare treat of showing the life beyond the meme. It is a gripping, unique story which does not sacrifice meaning for the sake of an agenda or message. This touching portrait of a life entertains and informs, making it a unique look at how indigenous culture persists in today’s world.
#skoden (imagineNATIVE): Movie Plot & Recap
Synopsis:
A photograph taken of a homeless man goes viral on the Internet, leading to an investigation of the person’s life and cultural background.
Pros:
- It discusses an underreported aspect of indigenous life
- It puts the story first, without being distracted by visuals or politics
- It combines comedy and emotional pathos
Cons:
- It contains potentially triggering discussions of racism and violent unrest against indigenous peoples
#skoden was screened at imagineNATIVE on June 4, 2025 and will be available to stream in-person and online in Canada on June 9-15, 2025, on imagineNATIVE’s watch platform.
