Skoden means “let’s go then.” It is a compressed way of saying the phrase aloud and is widely recognized as contemporary Indigenous slang in parts of Canada and the United States. Depending on the conversation, it can sound playful, encouraging, challenging, or confrontational.
The word became widely visible online through the Skoden meme. That meme featured Pernell Bad Arm, a man from the Blood Tribe in southern Alberta. He was a real person with family, friends, and a life beyond the image, so the story deserves more care than a quick meme explanation.
Looking for more expressions and their context? Read the Powwow Times guide to Indigenous and Native slang.
What Does Skoden Mean?
Skoden is a phonetic shortening of “let’s go then.” People may use it to mean:
- Let’s go.
- Let’s do this.
- Come on, then.
- Are you ready?
- Let’s settle it.
Tone and context matter. Among friends, it may be a joke or a way to build excitement. In an argument, it can sound like a challenge. It is not an Indigenous-language word and should not be presented as belonging to every First Nation, tribe, or Indigenous community.
How Do You Pronounce Skoden?
It is commonly pronounced close to “sko-den”, said quickly as if “let’s go then” had been compressed into one word. Pronunciation and usage can vary between speakers and communities.
Where Did the Skoden Meme Come From?
The viral image associated with the word featured Pernell Bad Arm. In 2025, Niitsitapi filmmaker Damien Eagle Bear released the documentary #skoden, which moved beyond the meme to share more of Bad Arm’s humanity and the community circumstances surrounding his life.
Eagle Bear has explained that the film was developed with family and community involvement. Reporting about the documentary emphasizes that Pernell Bad Arm never asked to become a meme and that his life should not be reduced to a single photograph. Read the filmmaker interview from TELUS STORYHIVE and coverage from CityNews.
Is Skoden an Indigenous Word?
Skoden is better described as contemporary Indigenous slang than as a traditional word from a specific Indigenous language. It comes from English speech, while its humour, recognition, and cultural life developed through Indigenous communities and online Indigenous culture.
Indigenous peoples and languages are diverse. A popular expression used in one region or social circle should not be treated as universal to all Native American, First Nations, Métis, or Inuit people.
Can Non-Indigenous People Say Skoden?
There is no single rule that every Indigenous person shares. Context, relationship, and tone matter. Repeating the word is different from performing a stereotype or using Indigenous identity as a joke.
A respectful approach is to:
- Understand what the word means before using it.
- Avoid imitating an exaggerated “Native” accent.
- Do not use Pernell Bad Arm’s image to mock homelessness, addiction, poverty, or Indigenous people.
- Listen when someone from the community tells you that your use feels disrespectful.
- Credit the human story behind the meme when explaining its online popularity.
Skoden in Indigenous Popular Culture
Skoden has appeared on clothing, signs, artwork, social posts, and in conversations influenced by Indigenous comedy and television. Its popularity reflects a wider style of humour in which familiar English phrases are compressed, reshaped, and given new community meaning.
That creativity is part of why searches for Skoden often lead into a much larger language-and-culture topic. Explore related expressions in the Native American slang guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the short definition of Skoden?
Skoden means “let’s go then.” Its tone can range from playful encouragement to a challenge.
Is Skoden from an Indigenous language?
No specific traditional Indigenous language is the source of the word. It is a compressed English phrase that became widely recognized within contemporary Indigenous slang and popular culture.
Who is the man in the Skoden meme?
The man was Pernell Bad Arm from the Blood Tribe in southern Alberta. The documentary #skoden by Damien Eagle Bear explores the person and community story behind the viral image.
Is Skoden offensive?
The word itself is not automatically offensive. It can become disrespectful when used to imitate stereotypes, mock Indigenous people, or reduce Pernell Bad Arm to a joke.
How is Skoden spelled?
Skoden is the most common spelling because it represents how “let’s go then” sounds when spoken quickly.
Updated August 22, 2026. Powwow Times welcomes corrections and community context.
