What was Andrew Jackson’s relationship with the Native Americans before he became president? How do his attitudes toward them reflect Southern ideals?

Andrew Jackson was already a nationally prominent figure before his election as President in 1828—and even before his entrance into national politics a few years earlier. He had earned part of his fame at the Battle of New Orleans, where he successfully organized the defense of the city, repulsing a massive assault by British forces. More importantly, especially to the "common man" that Jackson drew upon for his political support, was his record as an Indian fighter. Jackson led American forces (as well as some Cherokee fighters) who were involved in an internecine conflict among the Creeks known as the "Red Stick" War. This conflict, which, from its outset, intertwined with the larger War of 1812, culminated in the destruction of a large Red Stick force at the battle of Horseshoe Bend in 1814. This led to a massive cession of Creek lands (much of which belonged to those who had not fought against Jackson's force). Four years after his success at Horseshoe Bend, Jackson led American forces against Seminole towns (and, ultimately, Spanish ones) in Florida. This campaign began as a punitive expedition; the Seminole people often provided safe havens for fugitive slaves from Georgia. Jackson was also involved in repeated negotiations with Cherokee and other Southeastern Native peoples over land cessions. Accordingly, it can be understood that long before he was elected President Jackson was an instrument of American expansion and the expropriation of Native lands, in what is today the American Southeast. This process converted this region from Native lands into a planation belt where Southerners migrated in large numbers (bringing with them thousands of enslaved African Americans) to raise cotton. It was thus strongly supported by Southerners, who were always eager to bring new lands under cultivation by slaves.
https://www.loc.gov/collections/andrew-jackson-papers/articles-and-essays/andrew-jackson-timeline-1767-1845/the-war-of-1812-and-indian-wars-1812-1821/

Before he became President, Andrew Jackson was one of the key American leaders in the war against the Creek Indians.  Jackson also controversially invaded Florida, and this was one of the sparks of the First Seminole War.  Jackson's reputation as an "Indian fighter" made him quite popular with his Western constituents, who desired more Western land for their growing cotton plantations.  It was important to keep acquiring land because cotton is very hard on the soil's nutrients; new ground must be continually obtained for its growth.  This became essential after cotton became a multimillion dollar industry in the United States.  
After Jackson became President, he authorized the Indian Removal Act, which sent what scholars refer to as the "Five Civilized Tribes" of the southeastern United States to Oklahoma.  Jackson's argument for doing so was that the white culture which surrounded the Native Americans would eventually extinguish the native culture.  Jackson was claiming to act in the best interests of the Native Americans.  This paternalistic attitude was not uncommon, as Thomas Jefferson recommended moving all Indians west of the Mississippi River in order to preserve tribal traditions.  In reality, this attitude was really a mask to cover up the fact that Jackson wanted to acquire millions of acres for his Western constituents.  

Before he became president, Andrew Jackson fought in the war against the Creeks in 1813–1814. He and his nephew, John Coffee, were then part of what the author Anthony Wallace calls "Alabama fever." Using his influence in Washington, Jackson was able to have Coffee appointed the head government surveyor of Alabama lands. In his position, Coffee was aware of the location of valuable land, and he made his relatives aware of profitable deals. He also formed a land company that Andrew Jackson was part of, and Jackson was able to buy land near the shoals in Alabama without any competing bids. He later bought land in Mississippi as well. 
As the author writes, Jackson was not an exceptionally greedy person but reflected the general southern interest at the time in getting one's hands on Native Americans' land. This desire was most feverish in the southern slave-owning states out of a desire to have land on which to grow cotton, which was then a very profitable crop. Jackson became a proponent of Indian removal during his presidency, and he was long interested in the acquisition of Native American lands to further the economic interests of the slave holders in the South.