Penelitian ini dilatarbelakang oleh perubahan sistem perkawinan adat yang menggunakan belis di desa Benteng Tado. Budaya belis menjadi beban ekonomi bagi masyarakat karena sudah bergeser dari makna aslinya yang juga berpengaruh pada perubahan pembentukan karakter masyarakatnya. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui praktik pelaksanaan budaya belis, makna budaya belis dan nilai-nilai karakter yang terkandung dalam budaya belis. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode kualitatif deskriptif. Teknik analisis data dilakukan dengan cara reduksi data, penyajian data dan penarikan kesimpulan. Informan dalam penelitian ini adalah tokoh adat, tokoh masyarakat (guru), kepala desa, dan masyarakat yang pernah pernah terlibat langsung dalam pelaksanaan budaya belis. Tempat penelitian dilakukan di Desa Benteng Tado. Hasil penelitian menunjukan bahwa: proses pelaksanaan budaya belis dilakukan melalui 3 tahap yaitu (1) pra pernikahan: karong salang, cumang tau ata tua, tukar kila, turuk empo, (2) pernikahan: ngo ba paca, wagal, (3) pasca pernikahan: podo, curu/ roko, gerep ruha. Makna budaya belis bagi masyarakat desa Benteng Tado adalah sebagai bentuk penghargaan terhadap perempuan dan untuk membalas jasa orang tua dan keluarga perempuan. Dari hasil penelitian mengenai budaya belis sebagai kearifan lokal, teridentifikasi 18 nilai-nilai karakter kehidupan yang terkandung dalam budaya belis pada perkawinan adat di Desa Benteng Tado. Nilai-nilai kehidupan tersebut berketerkaitan dengan seluruh dimensi pembentuk karakter yaitu: nilai religius, nilai jujur, nilai toleransi, nilai disiplin, nilai kerja keras, nilai kreatif, nilai mandiri, nilai demokratis, nilai rasa ingin tahu, nilai semangat kebangsaan, nilai cinta tanah air, nilai menghargai prestasi, nilai bersahabat/komunikatif, nilai cinta damai, nilai gemar membaca, nilai peduli lingkungan, nilai peduli sosial, dan nilai tanggung jawab. This research was motivated by changes in the traditional marriage system that used belis in the village of Fort Tado. Belis culture is an economic burden for the community because it has shifted from its original meaning which also has an effect on changing the formation of the character of its society. The purpose of this study is to determine the practice of implementing belis culture, the meaning of belis culture and character values contained in belis culture. This research uses descriptive qualitative methods. Data analysis techniques are carried out by means of data reduction, data presentation and drawing conclusions. Informants in this study are traditional leaders, community leaders (teachers), village heads, and communities who have been directly involved in the implementation of belis culture. The place where the study was conducted in the Village of Benteng Tado. The results showed that: the process of implementing belis culture was carried out through 3 stages, namely (1) pre-marriage: karong salang, cumang tau ata tua, tukar kila, turuk empo, (2) marriage: ngo ba paca, wagal, (3) post-wedding: podo, curu/ roko, gerep ruha. Makna belis culture for the people of Fort Tado village is as a form of appreciation for women and to repay the services of women's parents and families. From the results of research on belis culture as local wisdom, 18 life character values contained in belis culture were identified in traditional marriages in Benteng Tado Village. These life values are related to all character-forming dimensions, namely: religious values, honest values, tolerance values, discipline values, hard work values, creative values, independent values, democratic values, the value of curiosity, the value of the spirit of nationality, the value of love for the homeland, the value of appreciating achievements, the value of friendly / communicative, the value of peace-loving, the value of love of reading, the value of caring for the environment, the value of caring for the environment, the value of respecting achievements, the value of friendly/communicative, the value of peace-loving, the value of love to read, the value of caring for the environment, the value of caring for the environment, the value of value social care, and the value of responsibility.