Drawing on the history of state-church-Indigenous relations in Canada, this paper explores the deep entanglements in the theological concept of Christian salvation and state sponsored "civilizing." Starting in the mid-nineteenth century until the late twentieth century, the Canadian state embarked on an aggressive policy of "civilization" of Indigenous Peoples that culminated in the residential school system. The policy was theologically informed and achieved through the collaboration of Christian Churches (Roman Catholic, Anglican, Presbyterian, United Church). In this colonial context both salvation and civilization were simultaneously and indistinguishably on offer. Through the use of an important cultural artefact and narratives of residential school survivors, this paper explores some of the strategies of salvation and civilization. The result of this exploration reveals the deep entanglements between modernity and Christianity, and the nature of Christian theological claims that are universalized yet expressed and experienced in particular contexts.