Conversation so far:
how did the french attempt to secure their hold on the vast areas they claimed in north america
They founded widely separated communities, fortresses, and trading posts.
which areas in North America did the French  control
The French established forts and settlements that would become such cities as Quebec and Montreal in Canada.
what areas did the French control in the US
The French established forts and settlements that would become such cities as Detroit, Green Bay, St. Louis, Cape Girardeau, Mobile, Biloxi, Baton Rouge and New Orleans in the United States.
what did French colonies in North America produce
Most colonies were developed to export products such as fish, rice, sugar, and furs.

Question: what were relations like with the Native Americans
Self-contained rewrite: what were relations like with the French colonists and Native Americans