Cinammon Sioux Priest and Heather Rae Priest, co-founders of Priest Family Revival and the Antelope Foundation, lead a distinctive business initiative rooted in Boise, Idaho. Their enterprise is deeply informed by both community values and a rich family legacy. Priest Family Revival operates under a matriarchal structure, a development that occurred after the passing of their father, Randy Priest, and reflects the sisters' commitment to continuing an entrepreneurial spirit within their family. A core aspect of their current work involves comprehensive training programs for post-incarceration women, focusing on skills such as beading and jewelry-making. Through these programs, the sisters aim to instill a profound sense of dignity and inherent value in each participant, recognizing the transformative power of meaningful work and skill acquisition.
Their father, Randy Priest, was a significant figure in their family's history of enterprise. He opened his inaugural hat shop in Challis, Idaho, in 1980, before expanding his operations to include locations in Eagle and Donnelly. Randy Priest was remembered fondly, described as someone “loved by everyone,” a “cowboy mule-packer” who possessed a notable talent for making all individuals feel welcome and at ease. His warm demeanor and business acumen left a lasting impression on his daughters. Following his death, Cinammon Sioux Priest and Heather Rae Priest recognized the generational shift in leadership, stepping forward as the family's matriarchs and guiding Priest Family Revival into its current form, evolving its focus while retaining its foundational values.
The sisters emphasize that their family's roots in Idaho stretch back through multiple generations, identifying themselves as descendants of “people who work the land.” This deep connection to the land and a history of working with it informs much of their perspective. They also openly discuss their background, noting their origins in structural poverty. These lived experiences and generational narratives have profoundly shaped their approach to building Priest Family Revival. They made a conscious decision to construct their business by drawing directly from their authentic identities and experiences, rather than feeling compelled to “borrowing from the imaginations of capitalism.” This philosophy underpins their desire to create an enterprise that is true to who they are and the community they serve.
Furthermore, Cinammon Sioux Priest and Heather Rae Priest bring extensive professional backgrounds that directly support and enhance their mission at Priest Family Revival. Their expertise includes significant work within the recovery space, as well as direct involvement in prison systems and providing post-incarceration case management. These combined experiences provide them with a deep understanding of the challenges faced by the women they train and equip them with effective strategies for support and empowerment. They stress that the company was always envisioned to be built “in community,” underscoring their belief in collective growth and mutual support. Through the structured training and mentorship provided, they aim to powerfully communicate to the women participating that “your time has value,” fostering self-worth, practical skills, and new opportunities.
