A native title claim for a 36,000 square kilometre swathe of land in Western Australia has been rejected by the Federal Court.

The claim, which was originally lodged in 1996, covers an area in the state's Mid West and Murchison regions and affects people who identify as Badimia.

The Federal Court dismissed the claim due to "connection issues", saying it did not believe there was sufficient evidence to prove the Badimia people's ongoing connection to country.

Solicitors from the Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation have represented claimants throughout the process.

The corporation's principal legal officer Michael Meegan said it was a disappointing decision for those involved.

"It's heartbreaking for the Aboriginal people and it's a lost opportunity to progress reconciliation with people to the land in the claim area," he said.

"There's a lost opportunity in terms of recognising the Aboriginal people, providing support for them to close the gap, and ... for that independence that Aboriginal people are looking for."

Mr Meegan said Aboriginal people faced challenges from exploration, mining, settlement, farming and government policy, which affected their ability to maintain connection to country.

"The Aboriginal people find it very hard to understand that if you've lost it, [it] doesn't matter what's caused it," he said.

"So they can't say well, that's the reason why it was difficult for us to practice our laws and customs because of these things.

"But nevertheless, the Badimia people maintain that connection to country, but unfortunately the court didn't consider there was sufficient evidence to be able to recognise that native title."

Mr Meegan said the decision would affect more than 500 people.

He said the corporation was reviewing the judgment to see if there were grounds for appeal.

The claim was based in the Yamatji region, and covered areas in the shires of Cue, Dalwallinu, Menzies, Mt Magnet, Mt Marshall, Perenjori, Yalgoo and Yilgarn.