Hilary Harper on Life Matters speaks with Shannon Ruska and Ray Kerkhove about the intercultural relations between the Aboriginal people and the convicts and officers of the Moreton Bay penal colony that was established in 1824.

What began as fascination and even trade relationships turned into extreme conflict and violence. In 2018 the Museum of Brisbane curated an exhibition called Life in Irons, detailing the little known history of interactions between local Aboriginal people and settlers in the area.

Shannon Ruska is a descendant of the Yuggera, Nunukul and Yugumbir people and founder of Nunukul Yuggera Aboriginal Dancers.

Ray Kerkhove is a visiting fellow at the Harry Gentle Resource Centre, Griffith University, an historian and one of the researchers for Life in Irons.