#Skoden-who and what? a Hot Docs Review

 #skoden

A film by Damien Eagle Bear,

World Premiere at Hot Docs

If you aren't from Turtle Island's Indigenous community you might not know what #skoden is.  It's slang for "let's go then".  This is the story of a hashtag and meme gone wrong.  

Early in the beginning of social media, a friend of Pernell Bad Arm posted a photo of Pernell with his arms up in a fighting pose.  It was posted with the hashtag #skoden, and for some reason, it went viral.  Pernell was a friendly man with addiction problems.  He had a case worker who cared about him and friends to hang out with, but he couldn't get over his addiction issues, which are influenced by the residential schools trauma.  

This documentary is told from an Indigenous perspective after Pernell's passing. With interviews with his caring case worker and one of his good friends.  They want to paint a picture of a man who was more than the indigenous stereotype of someone with an addiction problem.  He was a kind soul who was more than just a silly meme that didn't reflect who he was as a person.

This is a real look at the sad conditions men like him are in sometimes and how they survive.

It wants you to look past the addiction to the person and the reasons he became addicted.

Addiction is very sad to watch because there's only so much people can do to help, but they still need support and opportunities.

This is the kind of documentary that they should show in High Schools to teach people about compassion and to help not hurt this community.

Dennis Bad Arm and Mark Brave Rock