Aboriginal rights groups gathered in Montreal Monday to mark the anniversary of a significant U.N. rights declaration – even though Canada and the United States have yet to sign the agreement.

The Coalition for the Rights of Aboriginal Peoples in Quebec launched a petition calling on the Harper government to support the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Members brought cake and invited Harper to join their celebration.

"This is a symbolic cake of celebration so that he can represent Canadians in their real true desire to fully endorse this wonderful declaration. This wonderful human rights instrument is for the indigenous people of all this beautiful planet," said Ellen Gabriel of the Quebec Native Women's Association.

The Coalition said there are so far more than 15,000 names on the petition.