Crossword Genius

Spots natives around the East (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

locales

'spots' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'natives around the east' is the wordplay.
'natives' becomes 'locals' (I've seen this in another clue).
'around' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'the east' becomes 'E' (abbreviation).
'locals' going around 'e' is 'LOCALES'.

(Other definitions for locales that I've seen before include "scenes" , "Spots" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
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