Final answer:
The French played a significant role in discovering and exploring the interior of Canada through their exploration and colonization efforts, such as establishing colonies in Quebec and forming alliances with local indigenous groups.
Step-by-step explanation:
The French, through their exploration and colonization efforts, helped to explore the interior of Canada. Samuel de Champlain, for example, established the colony of New France in modern-day Quebec and formed alliances with local indigenous groups like the Algonquin and Huron.
Additionally, the French fur traders and explorers made extensive contacts with the Algonquian people, which further paved the way for French exploration into the continent, including areas around the Great Lakes, Hudson Bay, and the Mississippi River.
Therefore, the French played a significant role in discovering and exploring the interior of Canada.