Crossword Genius

Steering committee discharged me — it’s symbolic (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

totemic

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

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

'steering committee discharged me it's' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'me' could be 'mi' (both are spellings of the musical note) and 'mi' is located in the answer.
'it' could be 't' (abbreviation. e.g. in 'tis) and 't' is located in the answer.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for totemic that I've seen before include "Having emblematic and spiritual significance" , "worship?" , "like an emblem" , "Having significance as an emblem" , "Emblematic, symbolic" .)

I've seen this clue in The Hindu.
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