Directed by Damien Eagle Bear, #skoden tells the story of Pernell Bad Arm, a homeless man from Lethbridge, Alberta who shot to fame as the face of a meme. Initially used rudely by non-Indigenous internet trolls, Pernell’s image was reclaimed by Indigeneous memers who associated the pic with the Rez phrase, skoden. Though the image became a rallying cry for the Indigenous population, Damien Eagle Bear chooses to focus his lens on Pernell himself, highlighting his history and family.

But the power of #skoden lies in its commitment to compassion. By taking us behind the meme and introducing us to the man, Damien Eagle Bear connects us with Pernell’s humanity. In a culture that’s willing to take an image and strip it of its soul, the director ensures that Pernell retains his dignity. For many, Pernell is just an image that they can repurpose to their own instincts. Yet Eagle Bear knows that Pernell is more than a picture. 

He’s a man who is worth honouring.

In this way, #skoden serves as a necessary reminder of the underlying cultural dominance inherent to meme culture. (After all, Pernell’s image had been co-opted disrespectfully by the White population, created to a new form of online racial discrimination.)

More than this though, #skoden also serves as a reminder of the humanity of the homeless population. Through his conversations with Pernell and his family, Eagle Bear taps into the necessity of acknowledging the importance of other people’s stories. There’s a sacredness to Pernell’s journey that showcases his value, even amidst his personal struggles. Though the internet would strip him down to a .jpg, #skoden views Pernell as a whole person, generous and complicated in the most beautiful of ways. 

#skoden is available at Hot Docs ’25. For more information, click here.