Harlan was born in 1958 in the Zuni Pueblo, Zuni, New Mexico to his parents, Juan Coonsis and Lorraine Nastacio.  Harlan has been designing and making jewelry since the 1970's. He initially collaborated with his first wife Rolanda, signing his work H.R.Coonsis.  He now collaborates with his current wife, Monica and they sign their work H M Coonsis. His specialty is mosaic inlay and he is considered one the finest of the Zuni lapidary artists making jewelry today.