The Columbia Headwaters Aquatic Restoration Secwépemc Strategy (CHARS) is an Indigenous led initiative of the Shuswap Band and the Secwépemc Nation that advances reconciliation and capacity building while also providing an opportunity to foster a collaborative, community-based approach to protect and restore Species At Risk. The CHARS contributes to biodiversity goals and supports healthy ecosystems within the tributaries, wetlands, lakes, and mainstem Columbia River from Donald, BC, upstream to its headwaters at Columbia Lake and Dutch Creek within the Rocky Mountains in Southeastern British Columbia. On-the-ground restoration as done through the CHARS plays a pivotal role in enhancing ecosystems, conserving nature, and honoring First Nations values as it is a low-risk, high-value approach that empowers communities to support the environment in its natural journey towards reclamation.

The CHARS is working to restore five creeks on the upper Columbia River Headwaters in British Columbia, Canada. The project's focus is on the aquatic recovery and restoration of important habitat form and function for SARA listed species of concern Westslope Cutthroat Trout and White Sturgeon, as well as provincially Blue-listed species of concern Bull Trout. Other keystone species that may benefit from this project include Burbot and Mountain Whitefish.

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 A study to prioritize and select watersheds that could benefit most from restoration was performed by ranking streams based on social, cultural, ecological, and Species At Risk data. In the end, the creeks selected for on-the-ground restoration were Fraling (Galena), Luxor, Stoddart, Shuswap, Windermere, and Marion Creek. Assessments required to create a prioritized list of additional monitoring and restoration opportunities to be undertaken in future years was also completed.