Crossword Genius

Tribal symbol as those people envisage it? Not hard (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

totem

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

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

'those people envisage it? not hard' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'it?' could be 't' (abbreviation. e.g. in 'tis) and 't' is present in the answer.
'not' could be 'o' (I've seen this in other clues) and 'o' is found in the answer.
The remaining letters 'tem' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

'as' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for totem that I've seen before include "Sign" , "Natural item of spiritual significance" , "Venerated object" , "Venerated emblem" , "symbolic animal" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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