Tribal symbol, as those people see it, is short of height (5)
I believe the answer is:
totem
'tribal symbol' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'as those people see it is short of height' is the wordplay.
'as' becomes 'to' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'those people' becomes 'them' ('they' refers to a group of people).
'see it is short of' is a deletion indicator.
'height' becomes 'h' (abbreviation in geometry).
'them' with 'h' removed is 'tem'.
'to'+'tem'='TOTEM'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for totem that I've seen before include "Animal as emblem" , "Native American symbol" , "Object of veneration" , "Natural item of spiritual significance" , "Pole used in ritual" .)